2020 Known Unknown Why Can’t Gris be Friends Cult Wine

“We’re super proud of 2020 Why Can’t Gris be Friends… it’s a very traditionally made Ramato Pinot Gris from the Petane Vineyard in Eskdale. While the vineyard isn’t organic it’s dry grown and farmed without herbicides and pesticides. It also produces some of the most exceptional fruit in Hawkes Bay. 

We see Ramato is distinctive from “orange” wine as it is typically made from pressing off the grapes part-way through fermentation. You get a hint of colour and more distinctive tannins than a white with brighter, juicier, fruitier fruit expression than a full-on-skin-ferment orange. We think it’s a happy mid-point that will please a wide variety of drinkers.

It’s got a hint of smoke and spice, bruised pear, stone-fruit and a very clean, balanced finished. It was picked early so it has good acid and no pronounced alcohols unlike many dryer examples of the variety. The label is a little off-piste depicting one of our very favourite food combinations: Radishes and Butter. We think the texture and composition of this wine will be stunning with more bitter vegetables, especially at the start of a meal.”