Spicy ripe pear lychee and spice characters sit within a frame of creamy yoghurt-like complexity. A fine dry, restrained palate with subtle hints of stone fruit, ripe red apples and figs.

2009 Vintage - Available Now

Audrey's Pinot Gris

This is seriously good! 
Named after Audrey Ostler, grand daughter of William, the Waitaki pioneer, our flagship gris is also from grapes grown on Ostler Vineyard. Showing the influence of limestone, it is a wine of complexity, of palatal weight yet delicacy, handling the higher alchol without it dominating in any way; a fine balance of acid with minimal residual sugar. Drink now or cellar for up to 3-4 years to discover the secondary flavours maturation will bring.

Winemaker Jeff's Comments:

"The early pick grapes of our 'Clos Ostler' Block were whole bunch pressed and fermented in tanbk at relatively cool temperatures and kept on lees for 4 months. The later harvested portion was fermented with wild yeasts in our 14 year old demi-muid barrels, at high temperature to extract the right degree of palate weight we were seeking. After 4 months on lees these components were blended, lightly fined and stabilised pror to bottling.

The wine exemplifies typicity to and respect for this great vineyard. Complex aromas of pear lychee and spice are interwoven with delicate nutty nuances from barrel fermentation and lovely funky characters from the wild yeasts. The palate is wonderfully rich and concentrated offering texture as the emphasis rather than simple fruit. There is sufficient acohol to add to the wine's already weighty frame and lovely soft acidity to provide definition and palate length. Unashamedly a food wine we would expect to see some of the classic creme brulee characgters as this wine ages over the next 10 or so years".

Alcohol 13.7% ; Residual Sugar 6.9/L; Titratable acidity 5.5g/L

John Hawkesby, Wine Reviewer:

"One of the best pinot gris from New Zealand I have had. Wondefully weighted and understated with incredible complexity and a hint of sweetness. Nutty with whicpers of  pear, lychees and spice. Remarkable."

Sam Kim - Wine orbit wine reviews:

"Audrey's Pinot gris 2009: 93 points, 5 stars. This is fabulous. The wine is rich fruit and striking, yet beautifully balanced and elegant at the same time. The bouquet is delicately aromatic, displaying floral, pear pineapple and citrus notes. It's cancentrated and refined on the palate with a hint of seetness and perfectly integrated acidity prolonging the delicious flavours. The wine shows ecellent depth of flavour and lovely detail. At its best: now to 2016. $34.00 Widely available. 13.5% Screw cap. May 2011"

Raymond Chan Wine Reviews:

Ostler 'Audrey's' Waitaki Valley Pinot Gris 2009«««««Bright Bright, lemony, straw-yellow colour with some depth. This has a fresh, concentrated bouquet of ripe stonefruits and acacia florals with delicate flinty lees work and minerally aromas. A dry wine, this is very finely expressed with concentrated and intense flavours of ripe pears and stonefruits. There are subtle complexing flint and mineral nuances. The palate has weight and an unctuousness providing excellent, rich textures, which are balanced by excellent acidity. Fruit harvested in two portions, the earlier pick cool-fermented in stainless-steel, the later pick in old demi-muid barrels by indigenous yeasts at higher temperatures. 4 months on lees, the wine is 13.7% alc. and carries 6.9 g/L rs. Serve with poultry and pork dishes over the next 4-5 years. 18.5-/20