Kenzie Beautiful Strangers 2022

Kenzie Beautiful Strangers is a skin-contact white blend from Hawke's Bay.

Kenzie is Dave Mackintosh's New Zealand project, and the fruit comes from a dry-grown, sustainably farmed single vineyard at Waiohinganga in the Esk Valley. Three varieties go in: Pinot Gris for just over half, Gewürztraminer for close to forty per cent, and a small slice of Chardonnay. The Gewürztraminer was handpicked, destemmed and fermented naturally as whole berries for ten days with a little Chardonnay juice added. The Pinot Gris was split evenly between whole berries and whole bunches and stayed on skins for seventeen days. The parcels met at the press and finished co-fermenting in tank and old puncheon, then went through natural malolactic and four months of maturation. No fining, no filtration, minimal sulphur.

Aromatic and textural, with dried apricot, orange peel, ginger and a gently grippy finish off the skins. Serve it cool but not cold, around 12 degrees. It stands up to spice: Sichuan eggplant, a Moroccan tagine, roast pork belly, or a washed-rind cheese.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.