Hi again,
I recently queried about Old Bastard Shiraz and 1914 Shiraz. I have now found out that Grosset's two Rielsings will be released here in Sweden on Monday as well, and I am now wondering if there's anyone out there with thoughts on the 2003 vintage in Clare (for Riesling), and if anyone has tried Grosset's Polish Hill and/or Watervale 2003 wines?
I just think it'd be fun to compare what I understand two one of Australia's top Rielings with Rielsings from Alsace and Germany.
Thank you in advance.
Anders
Clare Valley Riesling
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David Lole
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Guest_Anders
The 2003 Clare rieslings have turned out to be a real mixed bag, which totally reflects the conditions there when I visited during vintage. The rain that affected the region zig-zagged all over the place, affecting some vineyards badly, and others nearby not at all. The result is there's no real regional descriptors; at times you get different wines resembling others from different regions.
The 2003 Grosset Polish Hill has incredibly intense mineral and passionfruit characters on the nose and palate. It will take a lot of breathing time and preferably decanting, as it is so closed and intense.
The 2003 Grosset Watervale is equally as intense, again with those passionfuit and mineral characters on the palate. The nose differs in complexity, having at first green-apple with nutmeg, then passionfuit, and finally freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stunning palate length that goes on for an eternity. For me this is the pick of the two.
The Pauletts Polish Hill, Jeanerret Watervale, and Sevenhill all have those green-apple characters similar to the Grosset Watervale. The Mitchells Watervale is almost identical to their 2002; pure passionfuit juice with some pungent characters - and similar to the O'Leary Walker Polish Hill. The Wilson Vineyard resembles the 2002 Petaluma, with hints on aniseed sprinkled over a lime/mineral finish - the 2003 Petaluma is nothing like this, with intense slate and steel and hints of mango. The Leasingham Bin 7 is remarkably soft and developed, with lime/soursob on the nose, and marmalade on the palate.
I think this should give you an idea what I mean about 2003 being a mixed bag! It's really trying a few as they vary so much.
Ian
The 2003 Grosset Polish Hill has incredibly intense mineral and passionfruit characters on the nose and palate. It will take a lot of breathing time and preferably decanting, as it is so closed and intense.
The 2003 Grosset Watervale is equally as intense, again with those passionfuit and mineral characters on the palate. The nose differs in complexity, having at first green-apple with nutmeg, then passionfuit, and finally freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stunning palate length that goes on for an eternity. For me this is the pick of the two.
The Pauletts Polish Hill, Jeanerret Watervale, and Sevenhill all have those green-apple characters similar to the Grosset Watervale. The Mitchells Watervale is almost identical to their 2002; pure passionfuit juice with some pungent characters - and similar to the O'Leary Walker Polish Hill. The Wilson Vineyard resembles the 2002 Petaluma, with hints on aniseed sprinkled over a lime/mineral finish - the 2003 Petaluma is nothing like this, with intense slate and steel and hints of mango. The Leasingham Bin 7 is remarkably soft and developed, with lime/soursob on the nose, and marmalade on the palate.
I think this should give you an idea what I mean about 2003 being a mixed bag! It's really trying a few as they vary so much.
Ian