Hans Family Estate - Viognier 2019

Exotically exuberant nose. Imagine opulent aromas of white flowers, violets, apricots and peaches, developing on each sip like a symphony building up to a finale. A bouquet that simply stops you in your tracks. The palate is pure, vibrant and unforgettable. Gracious opulence with a luxurious dawn freshness. Rich and curvaceous across the tongue, yet still so elegant with a silky smooth lingering finish.

Vineyard: Wairau Valley - Rapaura. Prime location. One of the warmest sites in the Wairau valley, special micro-climate from adjoining Wairau river. Naturally frost protected.

Soil Type: Shallow (<45 cm) well drained sandy soil, developed from stony alluvium.

Vine Age Years:(planted 1996) 23 years

Plant Density: 5,500 vines/ha. The vineyard is close planted with high vine density.

Row spacing: 2m. Vine spacing 1m.

Rootstock: 101.14 (Riparia Gloire)

Clonal Mix: 642

Trellising VSP. Hand-pruned. 2 short canes.

Canopy management (to produce optimal mature and healthy fruit and for wine making): shoot thinning to 12 shoots/vine sucker removal shoot positioning 1. partial leaf removal around fruiting zone on the east side (morning sun) lateral removal trimming, top and sides 2. partial leaf removal around fruiting zone on the west side (evening sun)"

Viticultural Practice: certified organic with BioGro

Yield tonnes/Ha: 3t/ha. All hand-picked and selected at less than 1 kg per vine with careful handling of the bunches to the on-site winery. No trucking.

I left the fruit on the skins for an extended time to extract the superb flavours. Then gently pressed and transferred in 500 litre French oak puncheons for a natural (wild yeast) fermentation until there was no sugar left. Its fine lees has been regularly stirred assisting to its remarkable silkiness, complexity and depth.

The wine had 18 month in the barrel and 10 month in the bottle to mature and flourish to a perfect drink enjoyment when released. No cold stabilization. Unfined and only lightly filtrated to retain the amazing aromas.