2018 Astrolabe Pinot Gris

2018 Astrolabe Pinot Gris

2018 Astrolabe Pinot Gris, Marlborough, New Zealand

Winemaker Notes; Light straw bin color. Pear and quince, light peach and citrus rind and a whiff of cardamom and nougat on the nose. The palate is pure and focused with a delicacy of structure, finishing crisp and dry. Stonefruit and pear flavors dominate, followed by some light citrus.Great as an aperitif, with shellfish and seafood, pates, poultry, pork and light game as well as creamy mushroom or egg dishes.

Pinot Gris is a white-wine grape originally from the vineyards of Burgundy. It is now found in wine regions all over the world. For wines in the pale, light style popularized in late 20th-Century Italy, the variety is typically referred to by the Italian name Pinot Grigio. A member of the extended Pinot family of grape varieties, Pinot Gris is a pink-skinned mutation of Pinot Noir. The two varieties are indistinguishable in the vineyard right up until veraison. Then Pinot Gris berries take on their distinctive array of colors; anything from orange-pink to pale, dusty purple. The adjective gris is French for “gray”, and refers to the dusty, light-gray sheen the grapes often take on.

Astrolabe is a New Zealand producer, based in Marlborough at the top of the country’s South Island. It produces a range of wines from classic New Zealand grape varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well as Albariño, Riesling and late-harvest Chenin Blanc.

Marlborough is New Zealand’s most important wine region by far. Situated at the northeastern tip of the South Island, this dry, sunny region is home to more than 500 growers and produces more than three-quarters of all New Zealand wine. Vineyard area exceeded 26,000 hectares (64,250 acres) in 2018.

It is particularly famous for its pungent, zesty white wines made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety, which dominates the Marlborough vineyards. In 2017 the variety accounted for 79 percent of vineyard surface area and 86 percent of regional production.