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This wine was always designed to bring new world and old world together. After going to Bordeaux to meet the team at Boutes Barrels, John worked with the Coopers, to design a barrel that would work for Australian Riesling. They designed a 1500L barrel, which has had minimal toasting, resulting in a long barrel, which would act more has a maturation vessel, compared to a barrel which would impart oak into the wine. 2017 Rieslingfreak No.1 is made in a style which is different from any other Rieslingfreak. The wine has been wild fermented in a barrel, where as John normally ferments in stainless steel and with cultured yeast. Rieslingfreak is the inspiration of John Hughes, a man who is very passionate about his rieslings. The first vintage of the brand was in 2009, with a single vineyard Clare Valley Riesling. Since then, the label has expanded to include Eden Valley and Polish Hill River regions. The brand philosophy is to represent the hallmarks of a single region with their iconic winemaking style. Each Rieslingfreak wine is allocated an individual number. This number represents not only the region in which the fruit was grown, but also the style and technical specifications with which the wine is made. Rieslingfreak is about providing consumers with a range of specially crafted rieslings embracing both different regions and styles. It is only released from vintages considered worthy.

Pristine riesling of glacial purity and powerful terroir, promising great longevity A mountain of light, awash in diamond brilliance. Fragrant white lotus, fresh rain, lime juice cool Makrana marble, beauty, purity and starlight. Cool climate single vineyard origin: Derwent River Valley Tasmania 42.6°S Handpicked on a fruit day on the harvest moon Whole bunch pressed, wild ferment, rested sur lie for 9 months Bottled unfined and unfiltered with perfect natural balance.

Purity, drive, a vibrant quality that gives us pause. There is power that builds, a precise line that follows through to a remarkable length. This clone of riesling lends itself to a winemaking philosophy that utilises smaller bunches for greater fruit concentration, complexity and lift on the palate from extended lees maturation. Flavours in the apple spectrum with underlying power, full in the mid-palate with hints of creamy complexity and lingering white fruit intensity, its texture is layered, as the clone celebrates its unique qualities with the occasional surprise. For 40 years, Grosset have crushed and fermented various clones of riesling separately. These clonal components are typically blended or reunited according to the source vineyard, prior to bottling. Having a vineyard planted to a mix of clones has been shown to contribute to the consistency and complexity of the single vineyard rieslings. Four years ago, Jeffrey’s daughter Georgie suggested they bottle a few dozen of each riesling clone from different vineyards and taste each over time. One clone consistently expressed more concentration and persistence, but was less fruity. At the Rockwood vineyard (ACO certified organic), just one clone is planted on a strip of silty loam over red rock. The riesling berries and bunches are small. The clone is the one noted as exceptional. The fourth vintage of this single clone - 110 - riesling is as stunning as the previous releases - and subtley different from them. It's still sourced from the tiny plantings of the clone on the biodynamic Rockwood Vineyard. Georgie Grosset is still perfectly happy to remind her Dad that she suggested the clone was so different from the other Grosset rieslings that it needed to be bottled separately. Almost overwhelming, voluminous perfumes leap from the glass signifying that this is special. There's a generosity on the palate, too, expansive, even a touch dramatic, showing lemongrass and lemon drop flavours. There's a depth of flavour, a hint of herbs, perhaps coriander, cumin, sage giving depth to the limey flavours; a tingle on the mid-palate, and bright vibrant acidity which defines the finish.