2010 Te Whare Ra Gewurztraminer

100% Gewürztraminer from Renwick. Te Whare Ra (pronounced Te Pharée Rha) translates from Maori to ‘house of the sun’. Vines are some of Marlborough’s very oldest, planted in 1979. They are extremely low cropping and only 14 rows in the vineyard are chosen for this wine. Managed biodynamically, grapes hand-picked and hand-sorted again in the winery. Fruit was destemmed and gently pressed in an airbag press. Fermented in 100% stainless steel at 10-12°C with specially selected aromatic yeasts. The majority of parcels spent time on the lees for added texture and flavour. Only 310 cases of six produced. Winemakers and owners Anna and Jason Flowerday. TA 5.5 g/l, pH 3.6, RS 15 g/l. Clean, medium sweet, with a streak of bitterness on the finish that's distinctly uncomfortable. OK but without real pzazz. (JR)