2013 was a great vintage for both the Clare and Eden Valley’s. The temperature was perfect for ripening, with nice warm days, and not many days above 35oC. It was a particularly dry vintage, with few rain showers in December, and late January. This is where access to water was very valuable, and especially with Riesling. Water was applied to the vineyards early November through early March, with the importance of maintaining the Riesling vine canopy.
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The 2013 Rieslingfreak No.3 is a great follow on from the 2012 vintage. The vineyard produced its hallmark of big and rich fruit flavours, ripe lemons and limes, musk, and even a hint of mint on the nose. The palate shows great depth of ripe lemon and limes, pineapple and white nectarine flavours. The wine drinks exceptionally well now, but will reward with long term cellaring.
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The 2013 Rieslingfreak No.4 is slightly different to the 2012. I have found the 2013 to be more fruit forward, compared to the very refined 2012 vintage. The Riesling, although a delicate, it has forward aromas of floral, almond blossom and melon aromas. The palate has an abundance of flavours including lemon, limes, grapefruit and melon. The wine drinks well now, but will reward with long term cellaring.
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The 2013 Rieslingfreak No.5 has upfront fruit, sweet spice, lychee and brown limes on the nose. The palate is very generous with sweet lemons, citrus sherbet, and pineapple with a tangy finish. The wine contains 11g/l sugar, which is balanced nicely by the acid. The wine drinks exceptionally well now, but will reward with long term cellaring.
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Grapes for the No.7 are sourced from the family property, White Hutt, Clare Valley. Harvested at the same time as the No.3, the grapes are fermented to 7-8 baume before being fortified using three year old brandy spirit, and stored in very old oak casks for maturation. The wine was bottled at three years of age, expressing many of the flavours and aromas of a good fortified Riesling. Made in a ‘white port’ style, the No.7 is dark yellow in colour, flavours of...
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No.8 is made as a German Kabinett style. The word ‘Schatzkammer’ is a German word for cellar room, where German winemakers store their ‘treasure’ wine. As I believe this is one of my finest Rieslings yet, I thought the wine was worthy of the name ‘Schatzkammer”. The 2013 Rieslingfreak No.8 is low in alcohol (7.5% v/v) and high in acid and sugar. Aromas of apples, stone fruit, and green herbaceous notes. The palate has great integration of acid and sugar, sweet lemon and...
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