Only a recent addition to the Main Divide cellar but what a wine to blast onto the Pinot Gris scene.
The ‘Main Divide’ of NZ’s South Island sets the backbone for the terroir of this wine. This backbone is emulated in the wine with its natural acidity providing a lengthy mineral backbone. Hanging off it are fruit flavours of peaches, guavas and spicy pear along with secondary characteristics of barrel fermentation, ageing all encompassed by a gorgeous swirl of mouth filling creamy texture.
Case of 6 ($20.90/bottle)
Main Divide has shown it’s no slow pony to its stable mate Pegasus Bay. This grey pinot from Main Divide’s Winemaker Matt Donaldson have turn the tables and shown that their so-called second tier label produces wines to equal the best. After previously saying “no” to making the variety, Matt entered the Pinot Gris production race after some dehydrated PG fruit came knocking at the doorstep in 2009 showing the delectable characteristics of shrivel. Three years on, that ‘never say never’ attitude has produced an award winning style, with last vintage taking out top spot at the Pinot Gris Cuisine tasting. The small amounts of noble botrytis and ‘flavour concentration via shrivel’ are added for this 2019 vintage just as in 2009. Add to this the ever present mineral acid prominent with all Main Divide’s wines, and great barrel of lees stirring this is one Gris that shows a lot more complexity than the price reflects. As does the Southern Alps set up a stunning backdrop to the South Island so too does the natural acidity set the backdrop of this wine.