2020 Polish Hill River Riesling

Light straw.

Floral perfume combines with subtle notes of musk stick and freshly squeezed lime.

Fine minerality - a signature trait of Polish Hill River Riesling - is beautifully balanced by natural acidity.

Wonderful while fresh and lean, but has excellent cellaring potential - 10+ years.

Despite growing these vines organically since their planting in the 1970s, 2010 marked the first year of NASAA Organic Certification for these vineyards. Martin and Joan Smith and Molloy's vineyards are virtually next to each other in Polish Hill River and consistently produce top quality fruit which highlights the excellence of this sub-region of the Clare Valley. Grey loam acid soils over sandstone and slate make up the profile with much of the top soil littered with rock, proving just how tought the vines need to be to sustain growth and produce quality fruit. It is the slate of Polish Hill River, as opposed to the limestone of Watervale, that gives rise to the point of difference between these styles.

Fruit is harvested in the cool of night, de-stemmed, crushed and gently pressed. This restults in a fine free-run cut and a pressings component, with all batches kept separately in stainless stell tanks. The free-run juice is chilled to preserve the vineyard expression and purity of fruit. Once the juice has settled it is racked off solids and seeded with yeast. A cool, temperature controlled fermentation is carried out over 10-14 days. The wine is then chilled and filtered prior to bottling.  

Alcohol - 12.5%

pH - 3.05

Acidity - 7.0g/L

96/100 - Ray Jordan for The West Australian

"The 20th vintage and what a cracker it was in Clare. This is distinctly finer and more delicate than the Watervale wine from this vintage. It really reflects this outstanding area. Has a pronounced bath salts minerality with a little lime character. Very long and precise and ideal for current drinking or for the cellar." - Ray Jordan