The Valleys Wairau Dry Riesling 2009
Winemaker’s Vintage Report
2009 was very much decided by how much faith you put in research by Dr Mike Trought and his colleagues of the Marlborough Wine Research Centre on predicting the next vintages crop, 10 months before harvest. We had been observing the development of the crop prediction model and had the faith! – The model predicted a 30-40% increase in the number of bunches of grapes. This knowledge allowed us to drastically reduce the number of buds laid down at winter pruning; hence reduce the number of shoots that grew in spring, reducing the numbers flowers and bunches per vine, therefore our crop at harvest was, (a modest 7-8 ton/Ha). For those that did not heed the warning, the season involved endless rounds of crop reduction procedures, a costly exercise mostly done by hand or those who choose to do nothing produced excess yields of below average quality fruit (and who wanted that after the record 2008 vintage)!!
Climatically the growing season was wonderful, just the right amount of rain in spring, summer sunshine, then a dry cooler autumn harvest. In fact the weather during harvest was so good that I was often heard saying that vintage 2009 was boring!! Where had the adrenalin rush of impending doom, gone over harvest? All in all, one of the best vintages in the last 10 years right across our range of grapes.
Dry Riesling Profile
The Valleys Dry Riesling is grown just north of Renwick, about the mid-point of the Wairau river valley, on geologically young alluvial soils. “Soils” being very much a misnomer – rather sand, gravel and stones laid down over the millenium by spring floods. Here the vines struggle to survive producing only a few bunchs of grapes with small intensely citrus flavoured berries (4-5 tonnes/Ha) and a distinctive “wet-stone” mineral aroma.
Hand harvested grapes are gently pressed, with only the intitial free run juice cold settled, cool fermented and rested on lees for 6 months prior to finishing for bottling.
Tasting Notes
All citrusy on the nose its lemons and limes with that distinctive “salty” minerality for added complexity. Youthful, its fresh and alive on the palate, with very good depth, intensity, and balance, limey and salty with a dryish yet finely balanced crisp finish.
17 years of experience have showen this style of wine to age gracefully – Rose’s Lime Juice and toasted aromas and a dryish textured palate reward ones patience.
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