Damsteep Riesling

Vineyard

Fruit for this Riesling is sourced from our Damsteep Vineyard which is located in the north east of Waipara Valley at the foot of the Omihi saddle.. is hillside vineyard was planted in 1999 on clay and limestone rich soils. e soils in the Riesling vineyard are very dense brown to orange in color and inter bedded with sandstones and subordinate limestone horizons. is 2.2 hectare hillside vineyard has a vine density of more than 5000 vine per hectare.

In second year of BioGro Certification and Damsteep also benefits from Biodynamic practices.

Season

A dry mild winter meant a continuation of the drought in the North Canterbury region. Late spring frosts lowered yields in some vineyards and added to the stress on the vines as canopies were established. Un seasonally heavy rainfall in January provided some reprieve from the drought and the vines around the valley sprung to life pushing young shoot tips and completing canopy establishment. Dry conditions return and continued into late Autumn allowing gradual and even ripening of fruit with very little disease pressure. Despite the early season challenges vintage 2016 ended with balanced, ripe, and disease free fruit making harvest a deserved celebration of another unique harvest.

Fermentation

75% De-stemmed, not crushed, 70% Whole berries. 4 days cold soak at ambient temperature. Yeast for fermentation was propagated from a vineyard starter. Fermentation lasted 10 to 12 days with hand or foot plunging one to 2 times per day. Pressed after 28 days and drained to tight grained French, 3 to 10 year old barrels. Malo-lactic fermentation was completed in spring. 12 months barrel maturation, then racked to stainless steel tank where the wine settled for 5 months. Bottled without fining or filtration. Contains sulphites.

TA 5.7g/L
RS 5 g/L (4.88) Total SO2 11mg/L̴Ì_