Mitchell Watervale Riesling 2019

This feels like a very old school riesling – and with that, seemingly new school. Vineyard management is traditional, dry-grown, without fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides, hand-pruned and hand-picked. In the winery, the slow approach continues with a natural and gentle ferment then eight months floating on its wild yeast lees. All this is pertinent, as the wine, now released 18 months after harvest has a very distinctive style about it, a slowly developed richness of aromas and flavours.

Sure, there are the expected citrus notes, but with a deeper presence than simply fresh juice and zest. The palate is keenly balanced with a dusty minerality and judicious acidity, mouth-watering, spicy and definitely individual in its expression of what is a renowned varietal/regional stamp. You want character in your riesling? Here you go.

Tony Love

Journalist at Winepilot

Tony is best known for his 10 years as News Corp’s National Wine Writer, with weekly columns in major metropolitan mastheads throughout Australia including The Adelaide Advertiser, The Sydney Daily Telegraph and the Melbourne Herald Sun. He continues to write feature articles and columns for all the major Australian wine media publications. Tony has also worked as a restaurant reviewer, section editor, book editor, digital content provider, journalism teacher and was named Wine Communicators of Australia 2018 Legend of the Vine (SA). Find out more about Tony at tonylove.com.au

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