The 2023 Valli "The Real McCoy" is a skin-contact Pinot Gris from Central Otago, crafted in an orange wine style that balances texture, freshness and savoury complexity. Fruit from Gibbston was hand-picked and fermented on skins for around three to four weeks before ageing in older oak barrels, then bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve character and structure.
The nose is highly aromatic and distinctive, showing apricot, peach and lychee layered with orange peel, wild sage and white blossom. There are also savoury notes of beeswax, herbs and subtle spice, giving the wine both complexity and a strong sense of individuality.
On the palate, it is medium-bodied with a silky yet grippy texture from the extended skin contact. Stone fruit, tangy citrus and spice are supported by fine tannins and bright acidity, leading to a long, dry and savoury finish. The wine combines freshness with phenolic structure, sitting stylistically somewhere between white wine and light red. Critics have praised the 2023 release highly, including scores around 94 points from Wine Advocate.
