Review:
From the first vintage in 1986, for many years Dry River towered over other New Zealand Pinot Gris, by virtue of its exceptional body, flavour richness and longevity. A sturdy Martinborough wine, it has peachy, spicy characters that can develop great subtlety and richness with maturity (at around five years old for top vintages, which also hold well for a decade). It is grown in the estate and nearby Craighall vineyards, where the majority of the vines are over 25 years old. In the past, it was not wood-aged, but the 2017 (5*) was 15 per cent barrel-fermented and 30 per cent of the 2018 vintage (5*) spent 10 months in old oak hogsheads. The striking 2019 vintage (5*) is mostly from vines planted in 1979. Richly scented, it is notably weighty and sweet-fruited, with highly concentrated peach, pear and spice flavours, a slightly oily texture, and a long, off-dry (16 grams/litre of residual sugar) finish. Combining power, delicacy, depth and harmony, it is clearly a top vintage, already drinking well but best cellared to 2022+. Benchmark stuff.
Details:
Price: $65.00 NZD
Value for Money: AV
Rating: 5 Stars
Sweetness: MED
Type: White Wines
Variety: Pinot Gris
This is a Super Classic