Waipara Pinot GrisThe Crater Rim Waipara Pinot Gris 2015/2016
Tasted in mid 2018, the 2016 vintage (5*) is a top buy. A single-vineyard wine, fermented with indigenous yeasts in seasoned French oak barriques, it is pale yellow, with a fragrant, peachy, spicy, slightly honeyed bouquet. Full-bodied, it has concentrated, ripe, stonefruit flavours, showing impressive complexity, gentle sweetness (13 grams/litre residual sugar), finely balanced acidity and loads of personality. Drink now or cellar. The 2015 vintage (4*) is also a single-vineyard, barrel-fermented wine. Still youthful, it is a vibrantly fruity wine, medium-bodied, with good intensity of pear, peach and spice flavours, a sliver of sweetness (13 grams/litre residual sugar), and a distinct touch of complexity. Best drinking mid-2019+. Michael Cooper The Crater Rim Waipara Pinot Gris 2015 | 91/100 | 4.5 Stars The wine is elegantly fragrant on the nose showing poached pear, white stone fruit, jasmine and lemon curd characters. The palate is juicy and vibrant, and displays youthful fruit flavours combined with fine texture and silky mouthfeel, brilliantly structured by vibrant acidity. Approachable, attractive and very tasty. Sam Kim, Wine Orbit The Crater Rim Waipara Pinot Gris 2018 | 93/100 | 5 Stars This is gorgeously rich and opulent on the nose showing golden peach, grilled pineapple, warm spice and potpourri characters. The palate is equally impressive, displaying excellent concentration and succulent fruit intensity, backed by plush mouthfeel and a persistent silky finish. Sam Kim - Wine Orbit The Crater Rim Waipara Pinot Gris 2018 | 86/100 | 3 Stars Quite a toasty, leesy pinot gris with subtle pear, apple, tree fruit flavours. A hint of sweetness is balanced by fine, peppery tannins on the finish. A fairly savoury style. Bob Campbell, The Real Review The Crater Rim Waipara Pinot Gris 2019 | 94/100 | 5 Stars Richly fruited and beautifully fragrant, the bouquet shows apricot, poached pear, orange peel and floral characters, leading to an elegantly opulent palate that's wonderfully weighted and flavoursome. It's succulent, silky and mouthfilling, making it highly enjoyable. Sam Kim, Wine Orbit View the 2015 Tasting Notes View the 2018 Tasting Notes View the 2019 Tasting Notes |