Innocent Bystander Pinot Gris 2024 (King & Yarra Valley)

Winemaking Notes
The Innocent Bystander Pinot Gris 2024 is crafted from a blend of 82% King Valley and 18% Yarra Valley fruit, predominantly hand-picked and harvested between February and March 2024 to capture optimal ripeness and aromatic intensity. The winemaking approach combines whole bunch pressing and de-stemmed fruit to press, with 90% of the wine undergoing stainless steel cold fermentation to hold onto that freshness and preserve the vibrant citrus flavours and subtle touches of pear, lime, and lemon thyme that define this wine. The remaining 10% is matured in French oak for that lush mouth feel, with the barrels lees stirred for six months to add texture and complexity whilst maintaining the refreshing, bone-dry profile that characterises this French tradition style. This careful combination of techniques ensures the wine displays exceptional balance and purity, with the stainless steel component providing the burst of citrus and zesty lemon sorbet finish, whilst the oak-matured portion adds depth and structure. The gentle winemaking approach, consistent with Innocent Bystander's philosophy of not overworking their wines and treating them gently to ensure their bright fruit characters shine through on a long, smooth palate, results in a vibrant and flavourful white wine that is a perfect choice for any gathering.

Vintage Conditions
The 2024 vintage provided excellent conditions for Pinot Gris production across both the King and Yarra Valley regions, with cool flowering leading to low yields of incredible quality in the Yarra Valley, whilst the high altitude of the King Valley provided terrific acidity that ensures the wine remains lively and elegant. The cool flowering conditions in the Yarra Valley, whilst reducing yields, concentrated the flavours and aromatics in the fruit, allowing the 18% Yarra Valley component to contribute exceptional quality and complexity to the final blend. The King Valley, providing 82% of the fruit, benefited from its high altitude location, which created the ideal conditions for developing the vibrant citrus character and refreshing acidity that define this wine, with the terrific acidity ensuring the bone-dry profile remains balanced and sophisticated. The combination of low-yielding, high-quality Yarra Valley fruit and the zesty, high-acid King Valley component creates a wine that showcases the best of both regions, with the harvest period between February and March 2024 allowing the winemaking team to select fruit at optimal ripeness. The 2024 vintage conditions, combined with Innocent Bystander's gentle winemaking approach and the careful blending of stainless steel and oak-matured components, result in a Pinot Gris that offers immediate enjoyment and excellent versatility, with the delectable finish of zesty lemon sorbet and lush mouth feel creating an inviting and expressive drinking experience.