The Alea Riesling comes from a narrow corridor of hard red rock with poor, orangey, red loam topsoil adjacent to ‘Springvale’. As the early fruit from the vineyard reminded Jeff of the great German rieslings that were not fully dry, he decided to take a very different approach to the creation of Alea. With moderate baumes, high acidity and low pH, the aim was to make a wine with a generous palate balanced by zippy natural acidity on the finish.

 The 2013 Grosset Alea Riesling is delightfully floral with white flowers and a whisper of lemon blossom and fresh garden herbs. There are lime juice flavours, a hint of lemon and a beautifully balanced long generous palate that leads to a gentle grip and zingy dry finish. “The Alea has come of age” says Jeff. “This vintage is a fraction drier than previous releases and is wonderfully complex while remaining delicate and perfectly balanced. We put this down to equal measures of vineyard maturity and experience.”

General Cellaring Guide: Drink now, or cellar up to 10 years

Date of Release: 1 September 2013

Reviews

James Halliday ‘Australian Wine Companion’ 2015

Pale straw-green; the almost electric tension in this off-dry wine gives it great length and structure; all it needs is bottle-age (up to 10 years) to burst into full bloom. 11.8%. Drink to 2023. 95 points

Jeremy Oliver www.jeremyoliver.com.au ‘Wine Genius’ October 2013

Star bright, very clear in colour. Tropical core of fruit, laced with peaches and white nectarine all given lightness by elegant green and white florals. All is echoed on palate with moderate sweetness tempering trademark elevated acidity to give a gentle padding. Well handled astringency extending these flavours though a persistent finish. 95 points