Lienert Barossa Valley Roussanne 2021

It always surprises me that we do not see a lot more of this classic Rhône variety grown here, and especially in places like the Barossa which would seem heaven sent for it. Viognier has achieved limited success here, with some very fine examples leading the way. Marsanne has done marvellously well in parts of Victoria, and yet there seems little love for this grape. Their inaugural vintage, 2019, gave up a whopping 30 bottles of this wine. 2020 was better, but this latest, 2021, is an exceptional vintage for the region and one which shows us how these young plantings might impress. The team give the grapes a light pressing before both free run juice and pressings are fermented together in stainless steel, before racking into older French oak barrels for the extra complexity which comes from lees contact (2/3rds of the wine), with the rest going into stainless steel to maintain freshness. Ten months later, the wine is ready for blending and bottling.

Gold straw in colour, we have nuts, stonefruit, citrus, river stones and a touch of florals all evident. A lovely texture, one of the wine’s highlights, with minerally backing. With good length and early complexity, it drinks well now and will continue to do so over the next five years. I like this a lot; let’s hope we see a lot more of this variety.