Marlborough's temperate long growing season is perfect for Riesling. The Riesling for Astrolabe's Spätlese/Medium Riesling is grown closest to the winemaker's house at their organically run Farm vineyard beside a grove of fruit trees including citrus, stone fruit, cider apples and a fig. They watch the fruit ripen from their kitchen window. For the Medium Riesling, the winemaker has chosen to stop the fermentation while the alcohol is low and when the sugar and acid were in perfect balance. Using only the free-run juice in the winemaking to keep the structure, clarity and brightness and to minimise the coarse roundness that comes with the skins. This is an aromatic, fruity wine where the sugar is held in tension by a crisp acidity. The lush flavours of this wine will be further enhanced by toasty, honeyed bottle development with cellaring.