Awards and Accolades

2014 Vintage: 95 Points - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
"Fermentation in a used 5400l French oak vat, the addition of 2% muscat of alexandria, and the retention of 5gl of residual sugar have all come together seamlessly in a wine with length and real personality; the flavours ripple through citrus, apple and minerally acidity."

91 Points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
"Full-bodied in a varietal context with mandarin, lime and lemon sherbet flavours shooting through the palate. Bath salt notes too. Has the merest whisper of sweetness but boasts a lengthy, tangy finish."

2013 Vintage: 94 Points - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
"Forty per cent of the wine was fermented in stainless steel, and 60% in large-format French oak. A further touch was the inclusion of 3% pinot gris wild fermented in used French. Altogether left field, but has worked. Both the bouquet and palate already have a generous display of ripe citrus and apple fruit aromas and flavours, almost into tropical nuances; the structure and texture are also well above-average."

From the Winery

The vintage of 2015 was a cracker! It was dry and mild with little cloud and plenty of sunshine - a winemakers’ dream and the exact conditions in which Riesling thrives. Unlike hotter vintages that can present challenges in the vineyard, this year the gentle weather allowed the Riesling to shine without the worry of any phenolic development which can bring a ‘coarseness’ to the wine. As a result, the fruit was beautiful and delicate with an intense spectrum of flavours and a wonderful sugar and acid balance. Our tip would be to snaffle as many cases of our 2015 Riesling as you can because it’s going to be very special!
The two parcels of Riesling were selected for their distinctive characteristics. The parcel from Lakeview was first discovered in 2013 when our winemakers fell in love with its lemony citrus characteristics. Planted 40 years ago, these vines are gnarly looking things that pack a flavour punch and were the perfect partner to blend with our beautiful aromatic and restrained fruit. It is the distinctive qualities of these fruit parcels and the winemaking philosophy behind our Ladies who Shoot their Lunch range that guides our winemaking decisions and this is where it gets interesting...

We decided to ferment the Lake View fruit on yeast lees in a 5,400 litre oak cask to add layers of interest and structure. While common practice in the Alsace region of France, it is unusual to ferment Riesling on its lees in oak in Australia. However, we do because it helps build complexity and by carefully monitoring the time on lees (just nine weeks) we can create a subtle ‘slippery’ texture and roundness in this wine without the development of any autolytic characters – and we do this to enhance this wine for game. The Riesling from Upton Run was fermented in stainless steel to retain the freshness of its intense aromatic
characters, which complement the more complex and round ones of Lake View perfectly. A small component of Pinot Gris (8 per cent) that was wild fermented in old French oak barrels was blended to add another layer of complexity and depth to the palate of this wine. This is the most exciting Riesling we make. Perfumed, textural and complex it has the qualities to match wild game and the personality to intrigue, delight or divide the most ardent Riesling hounds.