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Chris Hatcher of 'Hatch Wines' has been a winemaker for almost 50 years including more than 35 years at Wolf Blass, 27 as Chief Winemaker. After many years of contemplating releasing his own wines, Hatch retired from TWE in June 2023 and then in October/November released my own label HATCH, his monicker for most of his life. Flaxman’s Valley is one of the Australia’s classic regions for Riesling. It is a subregion of Eden Valley located almost 250 metres above the Barossa floor on the eastern slopes of the Barossa Ranges. The high altitude gives a cool climate and long ripening period that is essential for making high quality Riesling. The HATCH Flaxman’s Riesling is floral with hints of lime and jasmine. The palate is elegant with intense fruit and fine natural acidity that is delicious now but will reward with medium to long-term cellaring.

Conceived as a white wine development program, the Bin 51 Riesling soon became one of Penfolds' star performers. Eden Valley is an obvious choice of region for Riesling due to the higher altitude and cool climate. The wine offers delicate aromas of fresh cut apples and pears with a twist of lemon and minerality towards the end. A great deal of fruits and acidity makes for an interesting white wine with propensity to age gracefully if carefully cellared.

The colour of gold struck through with green, this Riesling shows classic lime and mineral aromas with a touch of gooseberry. Rich and full-bodied, the citrus and tropical fruit flavours are underpinned by crisp acidity.

The very first Gruner Veltliner from the Eden Valley, growing blissfully alongside their natural soulmate, Riesling (and showing some similar characters). Rich golden yellow in colour with an intriguing floral nose of blossom and stone fruit. The palate is rich and broad offering nectarine and white peach with back notes of citrus and grapefruit. A beautifully textural wine yet a pure, clean, mineral finish.

High in the hills above Eden Valley, Pewsey Vale is one of Australia's great Riesling vineyards. This release shows the typical citrus and perfume aromas with a wonderful length of flavour. Always at a fantastic price, Pewsey Vale Riesling is still one of the best value-for-money wines across the entire range. Brilliant when young while it transforms over a decade or more to reveal a textured beauty to behold.

Heggies in Eden Valley is a winery to watch. Their vineyard is one of the highest-altitude vineyards in Australia and their wines scale dizzying heights, too. This Riesling drinks beautifully now, but itll only get better with age. Fresh, zesty and alluring, it exudes confidence.