Lockdown Dozen

Clare Wine Co. Riesling 2019 Aromas of fresh citrus,white nectarine and floral notes. Candied green apples with tangy acid and a balanced, structured palate for longevity.

Riesling is harvested under the cover of darkness, from the high altitude (450-500m) Trillian’s Hill vineyard in the hamlet of Penwortham.

Tropical fruits, jasmine and orange blossom leap out of the glass and carry through to the palate. Rich and textural, whilst being clean and precise. A mineral finish leaves you wanting for more…

The word pazza in Italian is the feminine version of CRAZY and this is my preservative free, wild fermented, unfined, unfiltered, Riesling sourced from the dry grown Watervale Peglidis vineyard. This wine is oxidatively handled and fermented in a blend of stainless steel and fifteen year old French oak barriques for 12 months. This slightly off dry style with its savoury qualities shows that Riesling can indeed come in many different shapes and sizes.

Wilson DJW Riesling 2019. “Hand picked, hand plunged, whole bunch pressed, unfiltered, minimal Handling. Daniel Wilson tells us that the DJW vineyard is 450 meters high, and the vines struggles in clay soil and frequent winds. I love the wine, which has more body and texture than you tend to find in the Rieslings from here. A hint of blanched almonds? Not sure. Daniel thinks it might be phenolics from whole bunch pressing he employs. Purists might object to phenolics in Riesling but to me it makes it more food friendly.”

VINEYARD – Cropping 2T per acre. Estate grown at Reillys ‘St Clare’ vineyard, Watervale. Rich red loam over deep limestone.

WINEMAKING – Pressed within 2 hours of picking. 100% free juice run.

BOUQUET – Open floral bouquet with a hint of citrus.

PALATE – Delicate flavours of zesty lemon/lime. Rich palate with perfectly balanced acidity.

Barking Mad Riesling 2019  is classic Watervale, with lime-splice-cordial notes streaming along a fine beam of acidity and talcy grippiness. From free-run only, this is archetypal.