Jenny Dobson "Florence" Fiano 2023

Tasting Notes

A powerful dry white wine that embodies place, variety and vintage.

Penetrating, complex aromas of hazelnuts, red apple with highlights of honied white flowers and grapefruit zest.

A palate filling texture with intense flavours of red apple, stone fruit, honeysuckle and pink grapefruit zest layered with mineral and fresh almond notes. A burst of citrus zest flavour on the finish balances the power of the palate giving crispness and length.

Enjoy when young or with bottle age. Drink lightly chilled.
Florence pairs well with antipasto platters, charcuterie, soft cheese and seafood.

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Background 

In 2010 Bryce Campbell became the first person to plant Fiano in New Zealand. His Bush Hawk vineyard on Ngatarawa Road has old volcanic soils laid down by the Taupo eruptions, layered with gravels and loam from the old Ngaruroro riverbed. These warm volcanic soils, coupled with the knowledge that his father had been stationed near Naples in the 2nd World War and had climbed Mount Vesuvius, spurred Bryce to give the Campania native, Fiano, a home in New Zealand. Jenny Dobson made the 1st Fiano from Bryce’s vineyard in 2013. 

Florence 

Florence (1894 - 1968), was my paternal grandmother and like Fiano she was vivacious, bold, and elegant. This wine is dedicated to her. 

The Vineyard - 2023 

Fiano is a late ripening grape variety, and it needs plenty of attention during the growing season to keep its spirited enthusiastic growth under control. With its thick skins and open bunch structure, the late ripening Fiano, coped with the challenging, cyclonic 2023 growing season.
In 2023 I started working with the only other planting of Fiano in Hawkes Bay, the Fratelli vineyard, just a stones throw from the Bush Hawk vineyard. 

The Winery 

The grapes from both vineyards were handpicked in April and whole bunch pressed directly. So, I could assess the character of each vineyard, I fermented the juices separately in stainless steel tanks and small stainless barrels. Although giving wines with different characteristics, I found the 2 vineyards synergistic when blended together. I am delighted with the resulting wine. Florence was aged on yeast lees post ferment and I gently stirred the fine lees for 6 months to enhance the textural richness of the wine. 

Winegrowing.

The first Fiano vines were planted in New Zealand by Bryce Campbell in 2010 with a second planting in 2022. The soils are old volcanic soils laid down by the Taupo eruptions layered with gravels and loam from the old Ngaruroro riverbed.

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I grow the grapes following organic and sustainable practices. I aim to create biodiversity in the vineyard encouraging wildflower growth, planting native and exotic trees. The water holding capacity of the pumice, which abounds in the soil, allows me to dry farm the vineyard.​

Fiano is a late ripening variety and I hand pick in April . 90% of the grapes are whole bunch pressed with 10% having 24 hours skin maceration before pressing. Fermentation is slow and steady. The new wine is left on lees for several months post ferment with regular stirring to enhance the natural textural qualities of the grape variety.

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