Pinot Gris 2024

Tasting Notes

A shimmering pale straw colour, this lively wine opens with aromas of poached pear, vanilla, lime and red apple skin. The palate delivers a sumptuous, viscous midsection balanced by concentrated citrus, guava, pear and subtle spiced notes. With a clearly defined framework of ripe fruit, lithe texture and salinity that celebrates its coastal origins, Pinot Gris 2024 concludes with a crisp, lingering finish.

Accolades

• Cameron Douglas MS: 94 pts
  "Floral, perfumed, aromatic and elegant bouquet with scents of wildflowers, spice, ripe green pear and fresh rose apple skin. Youthful, fine and enticing. On the palate, a fine silky-cream texture is followed by vibrant acidity and flavours of pomaceous fruits and spice. Harmonious yet youthful, with mineral drive, fine fruit tannins and lees complexity. A delicious wine, ready to drink now through 2029."

In the Vineyard

Like most North Island regions, we experienced one of the most challenging vintages in our history here at Brick Bay. The lack of sunshine hours during the waterlogged winter of 2023, and indeed much of that year, led to extremely poor bud initiation. Flowering was light, and although the summer eventually arrived, there was little fruit to ripen. Our yield for this vintage was among the lowest in decades.

In the Winery

Due to our extremely low cropping levels in 2024, we were fortunate to benefit from a winemaker-led collaboration with the addition of Waimauku fruit—helping to augment our own volumes while retaining Brick Bay’s signature style.

The two parcels of hand-picked fruit were processed separately. After destemming and crushing to press, the must received brief skin contact to release aromatics and build texture. One parcel was cool fermented to dryness, including a small portion in well-seasoned oak barriques. The second parcel was stop-fermented to retain natural sugars. Once combined, the wine rested on light lees until bottling, enhancing complexity and mouthfeel.

Cellaring Potential

In stable cellaring conditions, Pinot Gris 2024 will continue to evolve for 3–4 years. Over time, the fresh fruit notes will give way to flavours of dried fruit and a distinctive oily richness.

Vintage Notes

Harvest Period: 6–24 March 2024
Bottling: 11 September 2024
Composition: 100% Pinot Gris
Alcohol: 13.1% ABV
Total Acidity: 7.0 g/L
pH: 3.38
Residual Sugar: 9 g/L
Closure: Screw cap
Bottle Size: 750ml
Production: Limited release of 492 dozen bottles