Maori Point Central Otago 2017 Pinot Gris and Riesling

08-Jan-2018

Situated north of Bendigo and named after a bend in the Clutha river near Tarras, the 6.5 ha Maori Point vineyard was established by scientists Drs John Harris and Marilyn Duxson in 2002, planting Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Matt Evans began working at Maori Point in 2011, and with his wife Dr Maggie Evans, joined John and Marilyn in partnership in 2014. All are hands-on in the venture, with John and Matt making the wines on-site. An interesting and increasingly high quality range of wines is made, with the serious, ageworthy ‘Grand Reserve’ and ‘Reserve’ labels as flagships, but there are fun and accessible frizzante Pinot Gris and fruity Pinot Noir bottlings as well. Here, I review the new 2017 Pinot Gris and Riesling, the fruit for the latter from the nearby ‘Mondillo’ vineyard. Both are taut, elegant and minerally. www.maoripoint.co.nz

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

Maori Point Central Otago Pinot Gris 2017
Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Otago
Review Date : 08-Jan-2018
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright, very pale straw colour, near colourless on the rim. The nose is very fresh and taut, with elegant and finely concentrated aromas of white stonefruits, white florals and subtle nutty hints and an overlay of minerals. Dry to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate is tightly bound with a fine and elegantly concentrated heart of white stonefruits, white florals and minerals. The fruit is expressed with purity and clarity, and the mouthfeel is bright and fresh with lacy acidity. The wine flows along a delicate line with a little alcoholic power and good tension, carrying to a slender, lingering, thirst-quenching minerally finish. This is a youthfully taut and finely concentrated dry Pinot Gris with delicate white stonefruit and minerally flavours on a slender palate with good linearity. Serve with seafood and poultry over the next 3+ years. Hand-picked fruit, foot-crushed, given brief skin contact and indigenous yeast fermented, 60% in seasoned French oak and 40% in tank to 13.4% alc. and 1 g/L RS. 17.5/20 Jan 2018 RRP $26.00
Maori Point Central Otago Riesling 2017
Riesling from New Zealand - Otago
Review Date : 08-Jan-2018
☆☆☆☆☆
Brilliant, very pale straw colour, near colourless on the edge. The nose is very elegant and tightly bound with intense aromas of exotic white florals and lime fruit with hints of honeysuckle, minerals and a suggestion of toast. This has finesse and beauty. Medium-dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate has elegantly presented, intense and deep flavours of fragrantly exotic white florals and lime fruit with nuances of honeysuckle and minerals. The palate shows good fruit extract lending a little unctuousness, and is balanced by refreshingly, brisk acidity enlivening the mouthfeel. The wine flows along a delicately textured line with good energy, leading to a long, lingering finish of exotic florals. This is an elegant, refined and intense medium-dry Riesling with fragrant and exotic white floral, lime and mineral flavours. Serve as an aperitif, and with Thai, Vietnamese or Japanese cuisine over the next 4+ years. Hand-picked fruit from the ‘Mondillo’ vineyard, foot-crushed, given brief skin contact and fermented in tank to 11.8% alc, 14 g/L RS and 3.0 pH. 18.5/20 Jan 2018 RRP $29.00

Maori Point Central Otago 2017 Pinot Gris and Riesling

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

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