Pinot Gris 2022 - Black Market Deal #56618

This New Zealand Pinot Gris is crafted in a richer, more textural style compared to the typically crisp Italian Grigio approach. The winemaker uses a small amount of skin contact during fermentation, which adds complexity and mouthfeel without affecting colour. Combined with slightly higher residual sugar levels, this creates a wine with more palate weight and food-pairing versatility while maintaining its fundamentally dry character.

Martinborough's unique terroir and climate conditions have established it as New Zealand's premier region for Pinot Gris production. The area's cool climate and distinctive soils allow the grape to develop complex flavour profiles while retaining natural acidity. This particular wine showcases why the region is regarded as the spiritual home of New Zealand Pinot Gris, delivering the perfect balance of citrus freshness and stonefruit richness that defines quality examples from this area.

Skin contact refers to leaving the grape juice in contact with the skins for a short period during winemaking, which is unusual for white wines. In this Pinot Gris, the technique adds textural complexity and subtle tannins without imparting colour, creating a more substantial mouthfeel. This process, combined with the wine's natural ginger spice notes, results in a more engaging and food-friendly wine that stands apart from simpler white wine styles.

Serve this Pinot Gris chilled at 8-10°C to showcase its fresh citrus qualities while allowing the stonefruit richness to emerge. The wine's versatile profile and slight residual sugar make it excellent with Asian cuisine, particularly dishes with ginger or mild spice. It also pairs beautifully with roasted pork, creamy pasta dishes, and soft cheeses, where the wine's palate weight and food-friendly structure truly shine.

The 2022 vintage delivers this producer's signature style with excellent balance between freshness and richness. You'll experience bright citrus notes on the nose, followed by ginger spice complexity and stonefruit depth on the palate. The wine's light body doesn't compromise its flavour intensity, while the sustainable farming practices ensure clean, expressive fruit character that reflects both the vintage conditions and Martinborough's distinctive terroir.