2013 Charteris The Hunt Vineyard Riesling

Charteris

New Zealand / Central Otago / Charteris

Winemaker’s Notes
I have previously expressed my awe at the geological nature of this small plot of land. The vines
and vinous history of this dirt are well established and I am merely a portrait painter, though
hopefully one of some longevity, with a sensitive eye. My limited observation of this beauty would
suggest something of mature blossoming and evergreen potential. The 2013 harvest from this
vineyard was generous, not only in quantity, but fruit power, acidity and complexity. Perhaps not
so surprising from soil like this and under the watchful eyes of Blair and Estelle Hunt, history is
on our side.
This is evocative wine. When I put my nose into the glass I smell wild flowers and a stacked
slate wall as the first warmth of a dewy autumn morning rises.
Lavender, sage and kaffir lime lead into a cascade of rose petal, spice and subtle musk. Its
clean and clear, high botanical gin like aromas infuse with mineral talc. Complex fruit and
stones, distilled to aromatic purity!
The lavender, lime and florals carry to the palate where acidity becomes the driver. It’s
base load acidity, powerful but silent, giving a mouthwatering, almost effervescent texture
to the wine. Juicy lemon and lime wrap the core of the wine in a silky sheet. There is
dimensional weight that is effusive and lingering, only to be contained by crystalline
acidity giving almost infinite length.
Due to the delicate nature of this wine (and an overly experimental winemaking curiosity)
I have chosen to use minimal fining and stabilisation methods. In short, very little protein
fining, which may result in a very slight haze. I can assure you that this is completely normal
and overall hopefully makes for an even better wine.

Technical Information
• Hand picked on 20th April at 20.4 Brix
• Whole Bunch pressed
• Settled for 4 days before racking
• Inoculated with a neutral Saccharomyces bayanus yeast strain
• Fermentation was stopped to leave a small amount of acid balancing
residual sugar
• Minimal Protein stabilisation
• The wine remained on fine yeast lees until bottling on 23rd of July 2013
• 2.98 pH, 8.50 g/L Titratable Acidity, 9.34 g/L Residual Sugar, 11.5 % Alcohol

John Lewis

Newcastle Herald

4.5/5

I was much impressed by the 2012 version of this wine and the 2013 is just as good! It is green-tinted light gold and has honeysuckle aromas. Crisp lime flavour zips onto the front of the palate and the middle palate brings forth flint and green apple characters underpinned by as-yet-restrained honey and toast characters. Slaty acid holds sway at the finish.

Standard Bottle Out of Stock

About Charteris

PJ Charteris and Christina Pattison are a trans-Tasman love story. They come from either side of the ditch and Charteris draws on a deep well of experience, respect and sheer goodwill from Central Otago to the Hunter and far beyond. Kiwi-born PJ cut his teeth in Waikato before studying winemaking at Roseworthy and working stints in the Hunter Valley, Coonawarra, Clare and Oregon. He went on to join the winemaking team at Lindemans in Mildura and then Penfolds in the Barossa. He returned to the Hunter Valley in 1999 to take up the position of winemaker at Brokenwood, where he met Christina during a distinguished 12-year career.
The couple scoured Australia and New Zealand for the ideal site/variety combination and finally found it in the guise of the Winter Vineyard, a top Pinot Noir site with the A-list address of Felton Road, Bannockburn in Central Otago. The first vintage was 2008; three years later PJ bid farewell to Brokenwood to focus on the fledgling family label. Charteris makes single-vineyard Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, plus a Central Otago Pinot conceived by PJ to keep Christina’s hands off the Winter Vineyard museum stock.
“What does Central Otago taste like?” ponders PJ. “In my mind’s eye I have an idea but every year the stars will align to give me a slightly different picture. It is going to be an exciting journey."
It certainly is. We hope the rest of you will join us for the ride

About

New Zealand-born PJ Charteris has been at it for a while. At age 13 he was already pruning vines at Vilagrad winery in the Waikato, which he then ran for a couple of years when he came of age. In 1988, he left New Zealand to study winemaking at Roseworthy in South Australia. It was there that he met Christina, a marketing manager with previous experience at Rémy Australie. During his 12 years at Brokenwood, PJ earned an outstanding reputation as one of Australia’s foremost talents, including the accolade of Winemaker of the Year from the Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association in 2010. He’s also proved himself an important leader in the domestic wine scene, working with Wine Australia and heading judging panels in various wine shows.
Setting up at in Central Otago is something of a spiritual homecoming for PJ, a man whose fine-wine drive and curiosity has previously led him to Paul Jaboulet in the Rhône Valley and Californian Pinot star, Flowers, as well as other parts of France, Spain and Italy.