Description

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
Lake Chalice was established in 1989 with a vision of producing internationally recognised wines from the heart of the Marlborough region. New Zealand’s native falcon, the ‘Kārearea’, is proudly displayed on every bottle of Lake Chalice wine. Kārearea favour the remote mountains and foothills of the upper Awatere and Wairau Valleys and these valleys are home to Lake Chalice’s three unique vineyard sites. Each vineyard has a diverse microclimate, biodiversity and terroir which are seamlessly translated into multi award winning wines by talented winemaker Chloe Gabrielsen. Taking a boutique approach, she handcrafts parcels of fruit from single vineyards into elegant, aromatic, fruit driven wines and has garnered a global reputation of outstanding quality. Certified ‘Sustainable Winegrower of New Zealand’.

THE VINTAGE:
2021 delivered a high quality crop but a reduced quantity due to weather conditions. The lower yield greatly increased the concentration and intensity of the fruit, resulting in wines of exceptional quality.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
The grapes were sourced from a selection of Marlborough sites which are ideal for producing rich and vibrant Pinot Gris fruit. The Wairau River has deposited a variety of soils over millennia, resulting in a diverse and vibrant range of terroirs. The vines are predominantly replacement cane pruned, with VSP training methods; this combination ensures optimum balance between good yields, while ensuring airflow throughout the canopy, which helps to minimise the risk of disease pressure in the vineyard. The cooling sea breezes in Marlborough create a wide diurnal temperature range which helps to retain vibrant acidity, balancing the concentrated fruit notes. The grapes are machine-harvested during the cool mornings and are swiftly transported to the winery to retain freshness and vibrancy of flavour.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
The grapes were carefully selected prior to vinification before spending just a few hours on skins to extract the delicate colour, aromas and flavour before being carefully pressed. After settling, the juice was fermented in 100% stainless steel tanks at cool temperatures to retain the freshness and pure fruit flavours. The wine was left on light lees for a short period, and went through partial malolactic conversion to increase the texture.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
A pretty, pale blush pink rosé offering mouthwatering aromas of crushed berries with strawberry highlights. Fresh and elegant, with juicy notes of ripe raspberry spritz and white pear, through to a deliciously long finish.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Pinot Gris 96%, Pinot Noir 2%, Malbec 1%, Pinot Blanc 1%.