Flaxman Riesling 2009 (Eden Valley, SA)
$25, Screwcap, 11.5%
Source: Sample
http://www.flaxmanwines.com.au/

Hand picked, old vine Riesling that is harvested early and whole bunch pressed. It’s a wine made with love, from a part of the wine world (The Flaxmans Valley) that is very much on song at present.

Green. Straw green, green yellow and looking like an absolute infant. Backward. On the nose it’s deep and intensely fragrant with that sort of unquestioning intensity that old vines just conjure up. Orange rind, lime, and slate with an oxidative edge (as befitting its whole bunch pressing) that gives it a bit of aromatic wildness. So much intensity on that nose!

After the nose, the palate is all about acidity. Lots of it. Lots of chalky, mouth tightening natural acidity that juts in from the mid palate, cutting off the lime juice and lemongrass fruit flavours with the sort of lingering acid that could clean driveways, though it’s all natural so it never feels offensive, just making for an effortlessly long, dry white.

In essence this is one very serious Rizza, built strong and dry, perhaps even a tad austere. And I loved it. (Drink 2010-2020+, Rated 18.5/94)