Country: New Zealand Region: Marlborough
Varietal: Riesling
Vintage: 2020 Colour: White Style: Dry
Producer: Framingham
Description:
The Framingham label was launched in 1994 with one Riesling, and has since expanded to include Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Framingham produces wines from their 19.5 hectare estate vineyard (certified organic since 2014) and other selected sites. Their Riesling vines, planted in 1981, are among the oldest in Marlborough. Andrew Brown joined Framingham as head winemaker in January 2020, replacing Dr Andrew Hedley, who resigned from his role after 18 years at the helm. A highly regarded winemaker, Brown previously spent seven years at Framingham as assistant winemaker and understudy to Andrew Hedley before working as consultant in regions including Oregon, Central Otago and Alsace. One of Brown's Rieslings won the Champion Riesling Trophy at the New Zealand International Wine Show in 2019; a fitting accolade from someone taking the reins at Framingham, who have always been renowned for their Rieslings.
Vineyards
Marlborough, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, is one of the world’s premier cool climate viticulture regions. The area has relatively young riverbed soils that are generally stony, well drained and silty. A significant amount of work is done in the Estate vineyards that produce grapes for all of Framingham’s Rieslings. Extensive crop thinning and a degree of leaf plucking are practised when necessary, giving low yields of grapes that have had managed exposure to sunlight.
Vintage Information
The 2020 vintage began with a lovely warm spring that turned into a cool, wet December, which resulted in a nicely balanced potential yield and ample water supply during the time of high vegetative growth. The rains stopped in January and a significant period of drought commenced. However, the cooler January temperatures meant that the vines didn’t become water stressed and the fruit was able to ripen over a longer period, meaning excellent acid retention and flavour development. There was little rain during the harvest and the fruit picked was of high quality. The 2020 wines deliver all the trademarks of a classic Marlborough vintage: vibrant fruit flavours with great natural acidity.
Vinification
Fruit comes from three different sections of the estate with each parcel hand-picked and whole bunch pressed. The majority of the juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks with approximately 7% fermented on skins over two weeks, followed by ageing in oak. All components were aged on full ferment lees for three months.
Tasting Notes
This wine has a fragrant, complex nose showing mandarin and stone fruit, with smoky and stony notes. The palate is vibrant and intense with orange, lemon and stone fruit flavours with zesty acidity.
View The Awards Won by Framingham Wines