Grosset ‘Springvale’ Watervale Riesling 2004
The 2004 Grosset Watervale Riesling has fragrant lemon zest and lime juice aromas, is intense, fine and powerful with rich and concentrated lime citrus flavours and a lingering, dry finish of considerable length. It is a vibrant wine with characteristic juiciness yet has a mid-palate softness which makes it approachable when young. The firm acidity indicates it will improve with age, at least in the medium term.
This is the twenty-fourth vintage of the wine made each year since 1981. It is produced from grapevines planted only in soil that has red loam over limestone. The average vineyard altitude of 450 metres above sea level is also crucial to the quality and style of the wine because it moderates the temperature at all times.
Reviews
Jane Faulkner ‘The Age’ Good Drinking 23 April 2005
…this Watervale is all class – starting with a delicate bouquet of rose, citrus and some spice notes. It’s ultra-fresh and zingy in the mouth, steely but certainly not austere. A beautifully balanced wine.
James Halliday ‘Australian Wine Companion’ 2006
Light green-yellow; spotlessly clean; classic Clare with great finesse and length; lime/tropical fruit; balanced acidity. Drink 2014. 94 points
Jeremy Oliver www.onwine.com.au September 2004
Punchy floral aromas of lime juice and minerals, with perfumed, musky and lightly tropical undertones. Racy and assertive, up-front and concentrated, it’s unusually luscious and thickly coated, becoming almost syrupy before its profound cut of mineral acidity. Lacking the length of fruit for greatness, but hardly short of flavour and presence. 18.1/20 points
Harvey Steiman ‘Wine Spectator’ 31 March 2005
Stern, bordering on tart, with pronounced stony, slightly earthy mineral flavours that weave through the lime and nectarine fruit, lingering attractively on the vibrant finish. Best from 2007 through 2015.
Bruce Sanderson ‘Wine Spectator’ THE NEW WORLD – Australia – Riesling (USA) 15 December 2005
Soils in Grosset’s Clare Valley vineyards range from red loam over limestone in Watervale to clay, slate and shale in Polish Hill. Both sites are well-drained. The clay in Watervale gives that bottling more generosity, with lime and citrus flavours.
Recommended Producers and selected wines
GROSSET:
Riesling Clare Valley Watervale 2004 92 points
