Our Manu Riesling comes from selectively hand picked grapes on Bernie and Jane Jackson’s Riesling Vineyard. Manu is medium in style (approx 20.g/L residual sugar) with a ginger spice character coming from a mild botrytis influence. Aromas of kaffir lime leaves and grapefruit accompany the ginger on the nose, whilst the palate shows layers of suppleness, generosity and concentration. This style of wine is crafted to be enjoyed young but will cellar well for up to five years.

VINEYARD

Bernie and Jane Jackson’s small 2Ha vineyard is planted entirely in Riesling grapes and is located on the prime Martinborough Terrace. The eighteen year old vines have consistently produced Riesling full of flavour, style, balance – all a result of being lovingly hand tended since day one.

We have gladly taken their grapes since the very first harvest and look forward to many more years of stunning Riesling coming from their vineyard.

Martinborough has a cool, maritime climate along with other beneficial climatic drivers including a rain shadow, one of the country’s largest diurnal temperature differentials, windy springs and a long warm ripening period through autumn.  All this results in a natural low-vigour site regulating crops and enabling high quality, consistent, ripe fruit.

VINIFICATION

With our Manu Riesling we are picking bunches with only a slight Botrytis influence to create a more generous, softer style Riesling. These grapes are picked after the Jackson Block Riesling and are gently whole bunch pressed and cold fermented to ensure the wine retains its freshness and concentration.

THE SEASON

2010 was a very nervous year for grapegrowers in Martinborough. The season started off auspiciously with six cold frosty nights in a row. Spring was cool and very windy. We entered summer at least two weeks behind average and with January being grey, cloudy and wet things weren’t looking flash. Thankfully a brilliant warm sunny March and April followed and the grapes were able to be harvested in optimum condition.