Grosset Polish Hill Riesling 2018
$54.99
97 points “Remarkable”
Out of stock
Description
Established in 1981, the winery is situated in the historic township of Auburn at the southern tip of the Clare Valley. Remaining small and focused has allowed Grosset Wines to preserve the character and individuality of the wines, developing a significant international profile by producing wines deemed consistently outstanding, benchmarks in their class.
Jeffrey Grosset, owner and founder, has always been an innovator, challenging tradition and questioning accepted practices. He campaigned to institute the legal integrity of the riesling grape in Australia, was a leading proponent for the introduction of screwcap closures and privately funded research into the subject.
The emphasis is on purity of fruit. The estate vineyards, which are ACO certified organic, are hand tended and each bunch of grapes is harvested at optimum ripeness. The winemaking process is gentle and uncomplicated. With dedication, discipline and the application of knowledge garnered through decades of experience, the result is the finest expression of variety and place.
Jeffrey Grosset is internationally recognised as one of the ‘Top 10 White Winemakers’ (Decanter, UK) and one of the ‘50 Most Influential Winemakers’ (Wine & Spirits, USA) in the world today. Grosset Polish Hill is produced exclusively from the eight-hectare estate-owned Polish Hill Vineyard in the Clare Valley. The gently sloping site is comprised of silt and shallow shales over a thin crust of clay and gravel. This overlays a bed of blue slate, estimated to be around 500-million-years old.
This ‘hard rock’ site was originally part of a larger estate but was considered to be of limited agricultural value and so was sold off. The vines here struggle to draw nutrients from the soil, so the bunches and berries are small, and the fruit flavours lean and austere. Indeed, this vineyard exemplifies how old-rock profiles can contribute to a wine’s character. Relatively close-planted to three clones (two German and one local), this ACO Certified Organic vineyard is completely tended by hand; hand-pruning, shoot and crop adjustment and hand harvesting ensures the delivery of pristine quality fruit. No tillage is employed and no fertilisers are introduced: a mix of natural and introduced clovers and grasses are maintained between the vines and allowed to self-seed.
Since the first striking example of Polish Hill Riesling in 1981, Grosset has maintained a gentle and uncomplicated winemaking approach which focuses on the purity of the fruit. After harvest, the stems are removed and the thick-skinned yellow-tinged berries are lightly split, with only the free run (first cut) juice being used. This, combined with the challenging rocky profile of the site and consequent low yields, results in an average of two bottles of wine per vine being produced. The must is cold-settled before being decanted off. Fermentation and settling on yeast lees occurs over a period of months. Multiple small scale ferments proceed according to clone and vine age, and occur exclusively in inert containers, guaranteeing a purity of fruit expression. They are later assessed and the final blend assembled. Wines from this vineyard are never fined, nor is oak used. The result is the purest possible example of varietal character composed from this unique site: concentrated aromatic wines of great structure, with intense citrus flavours and cool slate characters, finishing long and dry.
From the winery: There’s a hint of talc and Provencal lavender and some vibrant herb aromas with a tight, intense mid-palate that features pure lime juice flavours. Mouth-puckering with a hint of lemon pith and shaley minerality, it’s long, uber-dry and memorable.
While plenty love the youthful tight structure and restraint of ‘Polish Hill’, others will prefer it after a few years in the cellar. It has the potential for significant aging.
‘We planted the Polish Hill vineyard in 1996, following years of research into the influences of soil, rock and altitude on riesling. Being a hard rock site overlaid with silty, low fertility soils, the vines struggle and crops are low. While challenging to manage, the result is strikingly different.’ Jeffrey Grosset
- ACCOLADES: Included in Tyson Stelzer The Top Nine Australian White Wines Under $100 of 2018; Langton’s Classification VII (2018): Rated ‘Exceptional’; Wine Ark (2018): ‘Australia’s Most Collected White Wine’
- 96 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 15 September 2018 “Lovely floral and lime fragrances greet the nose, while the palate is intense and almost juicy, fruit-rich and long. There are nettley dried herb notes too. Concentration with finesse and tautness. The finish is very dry, appetising and not austere. A really stylish Riesling. .”
- 97 Points. Ray Jordan, The West Australian, 15 December 2018 “A powerful, intense wine from an exceptional year in Clare. Crisp and pure, with typical tension. Has palate texture which you often only get in the best years. Long and precise, with a subtle floral lime character.”
- 97 points, Jeremy Oliver “Assertive, impactful and austere; lime juice, lemon pith and golden apple skin with floral and mineral notes; long and slatey; remarkable.”
RRP $61
(Also available as 6 pack buy… click here)
Additional information
Producer | Grosset |
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Variety | Riesling |
Region or Country | Australia, Clare Valley |
Vintage | 2018 |