Clos Clare Riesling 2018
The Clos Clare Riesling is a superb dry Riesling from the Clare Valley in Australia. The primary fruit flavours are lemon and lime tropical fruit with superb minerality in the background.
Run by Tom and Sam Barry, grandsons of Clare Valley pioneer Jim Barry, Clos Clare is a tiny two-hectare estate famed for its dry Rieslings. The vineyard in the Clare Valley sub-region of Watervale is 70 years old, although the Riesling vines were replanted 30 years ago on a mixture of limestone and red clay soil with some slate deposits in the centre of the vineyard. Winemakers Tom and Sam Barry both have experience at Jim Barry Wines, and also further afield in Germany, Austria and Italy. For outstanding Clare Valley Rieslings, look no further.
Vineyard
The vineyard itself is 70 years old , though the Riesling vines were replanted 30 years ago. It has three distinct soil profiles within the five acre vineyard: limestone at top, slate and rocky soils in the middle with heavier clay soils at the bottom.
Winemaking
The fruit was hand picked in the middle to the end of February and taken to John and Daniel Wilson's Polish Hill River winery, where it was chilled for 24 hours, prior to whole bunch pressing. It was completely racked off its solids after approximately 48 hours and was then fermented straight away. During the fermentation process no lees agitation or stirring took place and once fermentation was complete, it was racked off the lees. No oxygen was purposely introduced at any stage, as the wine was made as reductively as possible.
Tasting Note
Benchmark Clare Valley Riesling, bone dry with secondary characteristics of lemon meringue pie and honeyed notes starting to appear, adding complexity to the lemon zest and fine mineral core on the palate.
Serving Suggestion
Stunning with shellfish and fish dishes or food with Asian influence
Grape - Riesling 100%
Country - Australia.
Region: South Australia
Alcohol: 12.5%.
Dry/Sweet value: 1 (1 is dry, 7 is very sweet).
Residual Sugar: 2.
Contains Sulphites: Yes.
Vegetarian/Vegan: Yes/Yes.
Milk/Eggs: No/No.
Organic/Biodynamic No/No.