2024 Sass the Tailor

Adelaide Hills / Eden Valley

Pinot gris, Chardonnay, Semillon, Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Grüner veltliner

Pale gold with green hues. Fragrant aromas of almond blossom, honeysuckle, white nectarine and nashi pear, with hints of lemon zest, marjoram, thyme and pink peppercorn. A rich, textural palate of yellow nectarine, grapefruit, guava and red pear, with refreshing acidity and excellent length.


$28.00
$28.00
Pale gold with green hues. Fragrant aromas of almond blossom, honeysuckle, white nectarine and nashi pear, with hints...

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BACKGROUND

Sass the Tailor is a tribute to Henry William Sass, a tailor of Lobethal in the early 1900s, who owned an Adelaide Hills property on Croft Road that became part of the Henschke Lenswood Vineyard in 2009. Sass subsequently sold the property to Frederick Croft, after whom the road along Croft Ridge is named. First-generation Henschke winemaker, Johann Christian and his sons helped establish the Adelaide Hills town of Lobethal following their 90-day voyage from Kutschlau, Silesia in 1841. In 1847 Johann Christian moved his family to Krondorf in the Barossa Valley, finally settling in the Eden Valley, where we have since celebrated over 150 years of family winemaking.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Varieties: 48% Pinot gris, 18% Chardonnay, 17% Semillon, 7% Riesling, 7% Gewürztraminer and 3% Grüner veltliner

Harvest Date: 23 February – 8 March

Alcohol: 12.5%

Vintage Rating: Excellent vintage

Maturation: The individual varieties were picked at optimal ripeness and fermented cool to retain natural expression of variety. Matured on fine lees in 75% stainless steel and 25% new French oak hogsheads and puncheons for 8 months prior to blending and bottling.

Cellaring Potential: 5 - 10 years (from vintage)

VINTAGE

Adelaide Hills – The Adelaide Hills entered spring under unusually mild conditions, after a typically damp winter with elevated temperatures and persistent morning fog that lasted right through to summer. An exceptionally cool period enveloped the vines during early flowering, reducing bunch sizes significantly. Nevertheless, the canopies developed well despite the persistently damp mornings and the small bunches developed steadily. Autumn brought great conditions for ripening, bearing fruit with exceptional purity and depth of flavour. A wonderful quality year for pinot gris from Littlehampton.
Eden Valley – The lead up to the 2024 season in the Eden Valley was characterised by significant rainfall in June, followed by a dry spring. Variable fruit set and frost impacted the yield potential, however rain at the beginning of December assisted canopy and berry development and good soil moisture levels supported vine growth well into January. The mild summer weather eventually warmed up and dried out, with some short bursts of heat, leading into a warm, dry autumn, which delivered optimal maturity and ripeness in the fruit. Our focus on canopy health in the vineyard was vital and this attention to detail resulted in pure and intense primary fruit characters in our white wines, with stunning acidity and freshness.

TASTING NOTES

Sass the Tailor is a tribute to Henry William Sass, a tailor of Lobethal in the early 1900s, who owned an Adelaide Hills property on Croft Road that became part of the Henschke Lenswood Vineyard in 2009. Sass subsequently sold the property to Frederick Croft, after whom the road along Croft Ridge is named. First-generation Henschke winemaker, Johann Christian and his sons helped establish the Adelaide Hills town of Lobethal following their 90-day voyage from Kutschlau, Silesia in 1841. In 1847 Johann Christian moved his family to Krondorf in the Barossa Valley, finally settling in the Eden Valley, where we have since celebrated over 150 years of family winemaking.

Varieties: 48% Pinot gris, 18% Chardonnay, 17% Semillon, 7% Riesling, 7% Gewürztraminer and 3% Grüner veltliner

Harvest Date: 23 February – 8 March

Alcohol: 12.5%

Vintage Rating: Excellent vintage

Maturation: The individual varieties were picked at optimal ripeness and fermented cool to retain natural expression of variety. Matured on fine lees in 75% stainless steel and 25% new French oak hogsheads and puncheons for 8 months prior to blending and bottling.

Cellaring Potential: 5 - 10 years (from vintage)

Adelaide Hills – The Adelaide Hills entered spring under unusually mild conditions, after a typically damp winter with elevated temperatures and persistent morning fog that lasted right through to summer. An exceptionally cool period enveloped the vines during early flowering, reducing bunch sizes significantly. Nevertheless, the canopies developed well despite the persistently damp mornings and the small bunches developed steadily. Autumn brought great conditions for ripening, bearing fruit with exceptional purity and depth of flavour. A wonderful quality year for pinot gris from Littlehampton.
Eden Valley – The lead up to the 2024 season in the Eden Valley was characterised by significant rainfall in June, followed by a dry spring. Variable fruit set and frost impacted the yield potential, however rain at the beginning of December assisted canopy and berry development and good soil moisture levels supported vine growth well into January. The mild summer weather eventually warmed up and dried out, with some short bursts of heat, leading into a warm, dry autumn, which delivered optimal maturity and ripeness in the fruit. Our focus on canopy health in the vineyard was vital and this attention to detail resulted in pure and intense primary fruit characters in our white wines, with stunning acidity and freshness.

92 Points
"...the delicate scent is all about the aromatics, spice and citrus, the palate brings more weight and a touch more of a Chardonnay feel with nectarine, white peach and melon infiltrating citrus, quince and Asian pear notes. A gentle, integrated texture flows easily across the palate with a hint of almond meal bringing a warm creaminess. Beautifully balanced, it finishes with a touch of clean phenolic grip."

JENI PORT, WINEPILOT.COM

92 Points
"Bright, lifted and pure, the nose bursts with pear, green apple, lemon and kumquat, laced with cinnamon, talc, ginger and delicate blossom. The palate is fresh and finely balanced, with crisp green apple and pear leading the way, cut by tangy citrus and underpinned by gentle florals and spice. Soft yet persistent acidity ties it all together, bringing length and a sense of quiet precision."

TOM KLINE, WINEPILOT.COM