The grapes for this wine were sourced from one of the original plantings of Riesling in the Porongurup ranges of Western Australia’s Great Southern wine region.
Only the finest, more pristine, “free-run” juice was used in the production of this wine resulting in a palate of outstanding finesse, free from the harsh, phenolic characters and deeper colours associated with grape pressings.
A long, cool ferment in stainless steel tanks, minimal fining and the use of screw caps are all further steps towards capturing the inherent delicacy of this cool climate variety.
This has been held back after bottling for nearly 10 years, and has just been released by the winery.
"I'm not sure how to start this tasting note. Perhaps I should start by saying that in real life, like right now, I am sitting at my desk and I'm smiling. Because this wine is unreal. And it always is, and I'd probably suggest that outside of Western Australia this little estate might be pretty well unknown—or something close to it, in global terms. I'd also like to say that in Australia, it's usually Clare Valley or Eden Valley that attracts the kudos for great Riesling. The Great Southern is often included in the chat, but given the quantities of the wines made and the virtual isolation of the region and subregions, it can be forgotten off the list. Well, wine lovers everywhere, it's to the detriment of our cellars and tables that we don't talk about this region—and specifically today, this beautiful wine.
The 2016 Museum Release Porongurup Riesling is bone-dry, with searing (natural) acidity and a distinct floral, mineral cast to the fruit. It is elegant, toasty, light as a feather and penetrating in the extreme. I love it. It has not yet begun to reveal the end of the path, and in terms of development, it is both graceful and slow. There is a pronounced sweetness to the fruit, like an Imperial mandarin at the start of the season. I have a (very) fond memory of the 2011 tasted last year, which looked very much like this—a case of arrested development—and for this reason and many others, I am utterly thrilled to get behind this wine and recommend it with everything I have. One can only assume that more-recent vintages will have yielded even better wines than this, which, in the future, we will herald. To be clear, a bottle of this wine will set you back $35 AUD on release and $50 for this museum release example. 12% alcohol, sealed under screw cap." 97+ Erin Larkin The Wine Advocate
