The pretty perfume and fruit purity of Eden Valley Riesling absolutely glistens and explodes from the glass. What a fabulous wine this is. Glorious in every way, white flowers are in superb form led by Jasmine with lemon myrtle hot on its tail. Green apples, fresh pears and white nectarines throw themselves at you but are bound by generous doses of lemon zest. A minerality vibe rattles through the core - I just love the riverstone feels. It just sizzles. Finishing with crisp acidity, this is a super cool and super smart Riesling. Drink now to embrace the freshness or hold for ten years+.

Oh yes, this Pewsey Vale 1961 Block Riesling 2022 is the purist’s champion. A megastar Australian dry Riesling, but without the profile (that it deserves). Soured from the original, contour-planted 1961 Block on the Pewsey Vale Vineyard, there is this immense wall of dry limey power that seems limitless. Yeah, I know, a wine like this is playing to my bias for steely dry whites, but it’s impossible to deny the wave surge of minerally (hate that word, but it’s the only way here) citrus fruit that still looks like it was picked just a few months ago (rather than a year and a half). A megastar I tell you! And ridiculously cheap.

While the original Pewsey Vale vineyard was planted in 1847, this release of the 1961 Block comes from the oldest (modern) part of the vineyard. Handpicked fruit, wild ferment and briefly maturation on lees. Winemaker is Louisa Rose. Packaged in ‘old school’ green glass. Pale straw with green hued highlights. Richer and fuller expression with savoury, minerally, wet stone and nutty characters underpinning focused lemon and lime citrus with deep white florals. The palate tightly wound and intense. Tension and length with a breadth of flavour that carries long and dry. Acidity turns the volume up through the tail yet never shrieks. Power and beauty.

Silver - Class 2 - Barossa Wine Show 2023