Westgate, Great Western, Victoria. Riesling. 12%. Screwcap. Approx $A28.Two interesting snippets from the side label, the vines were planted in the excellent year, 1969, and the juice was matured and fermented in large French oak barrels, a relative rarity for this grape, today, in Australia.
Though not the very best 09 Riesling I've tried this year, this is certainly one of the most interesting. In terms of descriptors, it's timid to begin, but with warmth and a few minutes it blossoms and becomes more telescopic. It gives the impression of sea salt, and strangely bonito flakes. More characteristically there is a lovely grapefruit and citrus pith grip to complement the crunch. This also has the faintest almost homeopathic suggestion of sweetness, surely no more than 5-10g/L. For an Aussie Riesling the nose is quite sulpherous and if all you did was sniff, it would be hard not to think of Germany. Excellent. 93. Now - 2020
8 comments:
And what is the very best '09 Riesling that you've tried Edward? I have Grosset Springvale at an indeterminate 94/95 (not a surprise choice!), but Polish Hill on 94+ and Clonakilla on 94.
MichaelC
Michael,
A toss up between the Grosset Polish Hill (have a bottle of the Springvale at home to try soon), the Cherubino and the Dandelion Vineyard. All around the 95 point mark for me.
The Frankland Estate pair I tried (Isolation and Poison) also excellent. I liked the Clonakilla, but not as much as this.
very much in the mode, and the geography of this one Ed, is the Lethbridge Estate Dr Nadeson 2009 riesling. Fruits hails from Portland, further west than the Great Western, though perhaps it just squeezes in.
Charming talcy sherbetty elements that remind me of German rieslings, and also that Frankland Estate Isolation Ridge model which is my favourite this year to date.
Track a Dr Nadeson down - you'll not regret it!
Why haven't I tried the recent Frankland Estate stuff yet? Perhaps more readily available in WA?
Should find some obviously as I've heard good things from many.
Clonakilla's 94 was more on the basis of quality and appreciation rather than a personal love - it's not 100% my style, though I've cellared two.
MichaelC
michaelc, not sure where you are located, but if you're in melbourne, prince wine store and randalls generally stock the frankland range.
Via and Michael,
The Prince wine store is deadly, they have the Isolation ridge, but not the Lethbridge. . .
Top wine this Ed. Loved it to bits. Texture to spare. This, along with the Heemskirk and Mac Forbes Tradition, is the oaked direction of riesling that I'm really starting to get into!
Max,
The one vintage from Heemskerk that I tried was terrific, I'll have a look for the Mac Forbes version.
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