Hiyu Wine Farm Pandion 2022

Hiyu Wine Farm Pandion 2022

Hiyu Wine Farm
$110.00

Grape: Riesling, Furmint & Others
Vintage: 2022
Type: White

Winemaker’s note: “A field blend planted to Germanic varieties. It’s primarily Riesling and Furmint with smaller amounts of the grapes that would be grown in the vicinity of those varieties. This includes the Alsatian Cultivars like Muscat, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Sylvaner, but also more unusual Austrian and Hungarian grapes like Harslevelu, Gruner Veltliner and Rotgipfler. In a sense, it is our version of a Gemischter Satz the field blends made in the Wien, the wine district in the heart of Vienna. Just as these are served in the traditional wine bars in the outskirts of the city, this is the perfect wine to drink with the food we serve in the tavern, especially with the transcendent cuisine of winter.”

Grapes: field blend of primarily Riesling and Furmint with smaller amounts of Muscat, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Sylvaner, and also Austrian and Hungarian grapes like Harslevelu, Gruner Veltliner and Rotgipfler.

This is the third vintage and easily the most textural and exotic release so far. In past vintages the Austrian cepage has tempered the Alsatian grapes tendency toward hedonism but in this cool vintage, the warm fall has brought out the latter’s deep color and honeyed spices. The wildly botanical and savory mineral qualities of the Hungarian cepage hide beneath. 

 

Hiyu is a true mixed farm with pigs, cows, chickens, ducks and geese living among the vines during different parts of the year and helping to control the vegetation. Nate calls their vineyard management, which has been deeply influenced by Masanobu Fukuoka, “the wild side of permaculture”.

The property is divided into half-acre blocks, each planted to a field blend from a different place or moment in the genetic history of the grapevine, with up to 150 different varieties and clones in total.

The name “Hiyu” comes from Chinook Jargon, where it denotes “abundance”, “plenty” or “big party”. Nate Ready used to work as a sommelier in various fine establishments, including the lauded Thomas Keller’s French Laundry in Napa Valley. China Tresemer, the estate’s co-founder and agriculturalist, is also a talented illustrator who creates all the labels.

Manual harvest into small baskets, whole cluster macerations, foot-treading and basket press, slow fermentation with indigenous yeasts only. Aged in old neutral oak barrels of various sizes. No fining or filtration, no sulfur at bottling.