Very light, bright colour with a similarly bright, fresh, pristine, powder puff, talcy, floral bouquet. It's very soft and fruity in the mouth, clean and dry but with exaggerated floral aspects. It's almost overpowering in its aromatics. Intense, tight palate. I'm sure some ageing will yield major rewards.02 JAN 2018 Drink 2020–2029
94 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com
High on the slopes of Eden Valley, bright yellow and blue buckets squat between rows of vines. Pickers pedantically divide Riesling grapes row by row – yellow, blue, yellow, blue, yellow, blue. Overseeing the process, tasting the grapes, stand two of Australia’s best known Riesling makers. Clare Valley’s Jeffrey Grosset and Eden Valley’s Robert Hill-Smith work together each vintage before taking their chosen grapes – Jeffrey’s in the blue buckets and Robert’s in the yellow - and parting ways to crush and ferment the fruit at different locations. Debate follows, as the juice is assessed and the final, final, final blend is agreed upon. Each component, nearly identical at the start, undergoes a different conversion into wine, reflecting the personal differences of both men.
The wine is green and vibrant in appearance, with aromas of zesty lemon and grapefruit. An intense and generous palate, with lively citrus fruit and hints of talc. The wine finishes clean and dry with refreshing, long acidity. As is the case with all great Eden Valley Rieslings, mesh will age gracefully and reliably into a mature wine under the Stelvin closure.
Perfect with natural oysters, or a fresh rocket and pomegranate salad.
South Australia’s Eden Valley, high in the eastern ranges surrounding the Barossa Valley, averages between 400 and 600 metres in altitude. Soils are rocky grey loam and have high acidity. Winter rainfall is abundant (typically 50% more than Barossa Valley). Temperatures are up to two degrees cooler than Barossa Valley and the growing season longer. Cooling breezes from the region’s gullies and hills ensure gradual ripening and maximum flavour development.