Tasting the new vintages from Harewood is always a bit exiting – it is the the first taste of what the rieslings of the Great Southern, one of the country’s top riesling regions, will have to offer from the new vintage. It is also not just wines from a single place – but across the region from Mount Barker to Denmark and the Porongurups, with few winemaking differences between them. This is the vintage and the land on show and is always a good indicator of how the year will play out. The 2020s show excellent fruit concentration although perhaps are less ageworthy than other recent vintages.
Harewood Estate Denmark Riesling 2020
94 Points – Drink 2020 to 2030
There is precious little riesling planted in the coastal zone of Denmark, which is the coolest sub-region of the Great Southern. It can be too cool in some years but also can craft beautifully subtle wines. The colour is pale and the wine superbly poised, subtle and delicate with jasmine, pear, spice and stony aromas. It is then dry, compact and concentrated on the palate with a core of citrus and stony fruits plus crisp acidity with a long and fine silky finish – elegance and subtlety are the key to this delicious wine.
Harewood Estate Porongurup Riesling 2020
92 Points – Drink 2020 to 2027
Porongurup often creates the most understated styles from Harewood but in 2020 is more expressive and generous at a young age than usual. There are pretty layers of pine lime, pear and apple fruits that then lead to a dry and quite textural palate. There is typically powerful fruit concentration and impact well supported with crisp acidity plus a lingering finish. This is a wine that will be at its best over the next three to five years.
Harewood Estate Mount Barker Riesling 2020
91 Points – Drink 2020 to 2025
Mount Barker makes the most exotic and fruit forward wines in the Great Southern and this wine is true to form. It is pale in colour but then has layers of generous and aromatic fruits with red apple, citrus and guava aromas. It is then dry and rich for Great Southern riesling, with plush fruits well supported by crisp acidity. It is an attractive, up-front riesling style with an attractive texture and flavour made for early drinking.
