The pale straw colour & aromas of ripe citrus fruits indicate the chardonnay origins of Pelorus nv. A bouquet of apple & lemon complements fresh bready notes derived from two years bottle ageing on lees. The deliciously crisp palate displays toasty, creamy complexity, enhanced by a lingering nutty finish. Chardonnay & pinot noir grapes are sourced from several grower & estate vineyards located within the Wairau Valley in Marlborough. Soils vary from stony free draining gravels to fine silt loams containing some clay. Vineyards are planted at a density of 1850 vines/ha & in an average year yield 9 tonnes/ha. The vines are trained to a standard vertical shoot positioned canopy. As a non-vintage sparkling wine, the final Pelorus blend comprises base wines from several seasons. The pinot noir & chardonnay grapes for Pelorus are harvested when the ideal balance between acid & sugar levels is reached for the production of premium sparkling wine. The naturally high acidity found in grapes grown in the Marlborough region ensures elegance & crispness in the final wine. Several different clones of chardonnay & pinot noir are used in the vinification of Pelorus NV. All grapes are pressed without crushing & the juice is given a short period of settling which is followed by racking & inoculation with a pure strain of Montrachet yeast. The base wines are fermented & aged in a mixture of stainless steel tanks, large oak vats & small French oak barrels. Following a spontaneous malolactic fermentation the wines are left to age on lees for a further eight months prior to blending each November. The chardonnay predominant blend is put on tirage using prise de mousse yeast the following February & subsequently allowed to attain a minimum of two years lees ageing in the bottle before disgorgement.