Knappstein `Ackland` Riesling 2011 (6 x 750mL), Clare Valley, SA.

Winery Tasting Notes

Aroma

The wine showcases a heady bouquet of fresh lime, apple blossom and musk.

Palate

The palate reveals intense lemon and lime fruit notes carried by seamless texture and refreshing mineral acidity to a long and powerful finish. This length and intensity of flavour exhibited on the 2011 Ackland Riesling is breath taking and as such I am sure this wine will have a very long and rich future in front of it.

Cellaring Potential

This wine will reward ageing for up to 10 years and beyond.

Vineyard

The fruit for the wine comes from Knappstein's Ackland vineyard, perched on a cool, elevated site of 420 – 450 metres in Clare’s Watervale region, widely considered the heartland of fine Riesling. Planted in 1969, its red loam over limestone soil yields small parcels of premium fruit showcased in the award winning Ackland Riesling – characterised by its generous fruit characters, classic citrus flavours and balanced natural acidity. The vineyard's east and north-east facing aspect protects the vines from the prevailing winds off the Great Southern Ocean. The soil is predominantly classic Watervale red loam over limestone with ridges of slate and shale. They combine to play a crucial role in the aromatic development of the Riesling, the delicate floral nuances unique to the handful of vineyards within this Watervale area.

Winemaking Note

The wine was made with minimal intervention to preserve fruit purity. The fruit was hand picked and gently crushed with only the best free-run juice used. It was then cold settled and fermented with neutral yeast at cool temperatures to dryness. The wine was cold settled prior to filtration and bottling.