2022 Snake & Herring Bizarre Love Triangle Ries Gris

The Bizarre Love Triangle is a blend based on the Gentil aromatic blends of Alsace in France, where it is allowed to blend only Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. These are aromatic, spicy textural wines, slippery and slatey, great chilled for warm weather and approachable as young wines. We have sourced the Pinot Gris and Riesling from Mount Barker and the Gewurztraminer from the Frankland River region in the Great Southern, the more northern aspect and continentality being perfect for these Alsatian varieties. Pinot Gris has a great texture with pearskin and slate fruit flavours. The Gewurztraminer is more aromatic, showing spice and florals with a talc texture. Riesling hold the components together with a fine thread of citrus and acidity. All components were pressed individually and pressings fractions separated. We barrel fermented all pressings fractions as well as the Pinot Gris free run in old 500L puncheons to add texture and volume. The free run components were fermented in tank. After 5 months on lees in both tank and barrel, the various components were reassembled, given a good talking too and sent on their way to bottle. The 2022 growing season started cool after a reasonably wet winter. Unsettled conditions during spring led to some variable flowering and set which moderated the yield. A hot Christmas period followed by dry and warm conditions finished off ripening without any disease pressure, balanced fruit and acid and fine ripe tannins. The 2022 Bizarre Love Triangle is again Pinot Gris dominant but with more Gewurztraminer than we normally use. The Pinot Gris adds the slatey mineral backbone whilst the exuberant Gewurztraminer adds ginger spice and floral notes. The palate is generous and full with Riesling adding a touch of classy citrus acidity. Perfect on the deck in Summer. Variety: 62% Pinot Gris, 33% Gewurztraminer, 5% Riesling