- The wonderfully delicate nose carries lime oil and soft citrus blossom
characters seamlessly to the palate. Here, the mouth feel is abundantly
vibrant and lifted offering zesty lemon and lime carefully balanced with
bright fresh, full fruit sweetness. The Rieslings from the cooler sub-region
of Watervale, south of Clare, are crisp, tangy and delicate and this example
is no exception. A true expression of vineyards and vintage, Mr. Riggs
Watervale Riesling 2019 represents precisely place and time.
The winemaking talents of Ben Riggs and Kerri Thompson were originally
combined many vintages ago at Wirra Wirra. Now the production of this
wine shows the Riggs/Thompson winemaking talents once again united,
using Riesling from Watervale, a sub-region of Clare, South Australia
which is home to some of the best Rieslings in the world.
The vines are planted by single cordon trellising, traditional to the Clare
region. Hand pruning allows the best possible shaping and opening of the
canopy, to maximise sunlight for growth and even ripening of the grapes.
The 2019 vintage in Clare Valley was uncharacteristically hot and dry, with
less than 150mm of rain fall in the growing season (October - early April).
Careful irrigation ensured the canopies remained engaged, and although the
vintage did present its challenges, fruit quality remained high. The grapes
for this wine were picked in late March and they accurately reflect the
pedigree of the vintage and the hand-tended vines from which they were
taken.
From the outset, producing a Riesling from Australia’s best Riesling region
was on the list of icon wines to be pursued by winemaker Ben Riggs.
Harvesting fruit from the Churinga vineyard (Kate’s Block) at Watervale,
Clare Valley, was an opportunity not to be missed.
Region: Clare Valley, SA
Vintage: 2018
Alcohol: 12.5%
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95 Points - Sam Kim
Fabulously pristine and delicate, the wine shows Granny Smith apple, lemon zest and lime sorbet notes on the nose, leading to a concentrated and brilliantly focused palate that’s vibrant and persistent. It’s beautifully poised and superbly structured for a graceful development. At its best: 2023 to 2034.
