Dry River, Gewurztraminer Lovat 2016

Gewurztraminer to me is a wine full of contrasts. In the vineyard the variety is co-operative, thanks to its low demand and impeccable behaviour. It is not until harvest time when the complex, multi-facetted personality of this wine with becomes visible; wildly aromatic when it suits, bitter when not happy, with some age it captivates the harshest critic and sweet because we feel it needs it to bring the wine together. On the nose too, the divisions are visible; ripe, tropical, soft flesh fruits like persimmon, papaya and rock melon are contrasted with orange marmalade, cloves and ginger. With a small and early picked portion fermented in barrel and aged on lees, faint floral notes and hints of vanilla are evident. The palate is strikingly consistent and complete, where the lack of focus becomes the focal point, perhaps testament to the four separate passes at picking time. The soft, cushion like entrance is followed by a bulky, luscious and textural mid palate, finished with long fresh tail. Like the texture, the fruit travels similarly over the palate through different spectra; peach and nashi pear at first followed by a Creme Brulee and ginger and finished with lemon marmalade. Though appealing as a young wine, we recommend to restrain from opening this for another two years and for maximum gain of interest for another five to ten years