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3 Jan 2000 -
First and last of the century
As it happens, the first Mt Difficulty Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris are also the last wines to be released by the Company this century.
From the excellent 1999 vintage these two wines are now available and winemaker Matthew Dicey's notes are printed below.
The 1999 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, currently in oak, will be released towards the middle of 2000. In the 2000 vintage the Company will add Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Merlot to it's range - all from grapes grown on Felton Road, Bannockburn.
1999 Sauvignon Blanc
"The 1999 summer in Central Otago was one of the hottest and driest for many years. The grapes for this wine came from our Manson Farm Vineyard on Felton Road and expressed a high degree of physiological ripeness and flavour. The wine was fermented cold in stainless steel to capture these flavours and aromas. The result highlights the ripeness of the fruit on the front palate with seamless integration to the mid palate and a full, soft, lingering finish. The wine is drinking well now and is excellent with food."
1999 Pinot Gris
"Mt Difficulty's Molyneux Vineyard on Felton Road provided the grapes for this powerful, dry Pinot Gris. The juice was oxidatively handled and then fermented to dryness in stainless steel. The wine was left on its yeast lees for a month to develop the mid palate and increase the texture. The result is obvious with a lovely rich mid palate backed up by powerful alcohol and soft acid. All the components are there for the wine to age well although it is also drinking well now."
Matthew Dicey
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