Tinpot Hut, Marlborough Pinot Gris Single Bottle
PL Award 1: SILVER - DWWA 2018
Country: New Zealand Region: Marlborough
Varietal: Pinot Gris Vintage: 2023
Category: White Wine Colour: White
Producer: Tinpot Hut Winemaker: Fiona Turner
"The Tinpot Hut story began in 2003 when winemaker Fiona Turner and her husband Hamish established their own 50 acre vineyard in Marlborough's emerging sub-region of Blind River. Naming her range of wines after a historic Marlborough mustering hut, the 'Tinpot Hut' links the area's sheep farming past with its current state as one of the world's most dynamic wine regions. Fruit is sourced from Fiona's 'Home Block' and is supplemented by grapes from selected vineyards. Fiona is supported by Matt Thomson, a friend and colleague with whom she has worked with for many years.
Producing her flagship Sauvignon Blanc, the 2015 vintage is a blend of fruit from Blind River contributing mineral and crushed herb characters and the Lower Wairau which imparts lovely tropical flavours.
In 2012 Tinpot Hut produced its first single vineyard wines: the 'Turner Vineyard' Riesling made solely from Fiona's home block vineyard - a light bodied wine displaying flavours of lime and grapefruit with a distinct mineral finish so reflective of the Blind River sub region; and the 'McKee Vineyard' Grüner Veltliner also a pure Blind River wine with flavours of white peach and subtle peppery spice.
The Pinot Noir has intense aromas of black cherry, supported by hints of plum and redcurrant. Structurally the tannins are soft and silky. Well balanced acidity ensures good length and weight.
The fruit for the Syrah is sourced from some of the oldest Syrah vines in New Zealand, planted on an ancient river terrace in the Dartmoor sub-region of Hawkes Bay, as well as from the unique gravel soil of the Gimblett Gravels area, which gives power and structure to the wine. Made in the style of northern Rhône, it is a complex wine showing plum, pepper and cinnamon characteristics."
Product Features: Sustainable
Vineyards:
Fruit grown on Fiona’s own 16.5 hectare Turner Home Block Vineyard was blended with fruit from the neighbouring McKee vineyard in the Blind River sub-region of the Awatere Valley. Each vineyard was carefully monitored during ripening so it could be harvested at optimum maturity in cool conditions.
Vinification:
After harvest, the fruit was quickly transported to the winery for immediate pressing, with minimal skin contact to avoid juice deterioration. Once settled, the clear juice was cool fermented in stainless steel using an aromatic yeast to help tease out the delicate flavours, and to retain the fresh fruit characteristics and underlying spicy notes. The two parcels were then blended and prepared for bottling under a screw-cap closure.
Tasting Notes:
Fragrant aromas of spice, pear and stonefruit mix with underlying notes of brioche and freshly cut spring flowers. This wine is medium bodied and textural, with flavours of ripe pear and white peach and a touch of spicy nutmeg - all characteristics that are synonymous with Pinot Gris grown in the Blind River sub region of Marlborough. This wine has beautifully ripe fruit flavours and is silky with good palate weight. The finish is both succulent and lingering.
Food Suggestion: Match with Asian cuisine, a summer barbeque or winter roast chicken.
