2018 Pewsey Vale Museum Reserve Contours Riesling, Eden Valley

Another museum release riesling from the excellent Contours block of the Pewsey Vale vineyard, way up around 500m in the High Eden. A gentle mid-straw in the glass with aromas beginning to take on the complexity that we love from aged riesling. Bickford's lime cordial, citrus blossom and Christmas lily are joined by buttered brioche, washed rind cheese, pressed wildflowers, almond paste, petrichor and stone. Porcelain acidity provides clarity and cadence, and it is clear that this wine is in a great place, possibly heading to a greater one.

95 points Special Value Dave Brookes winecompanion.com.au

The Pewsey Vale Museum Reserve Contours Riesling is a time-honoured expression of Eden Valley's extraordinary potential for age-worthy white wines. This wine is sourced exclusively from a single vineyard planted in 1965, on the historic Pewsey Vale estate originally established in 1847 by Englishman Joseph Gilbert. Located high in the Eden Valley at around 500 metres above sea level, the site is a Riesling paradise, with lean grey loam over slate and a cool climate that allows grapes to ripen slowly and retain bracing natural acidity.

What sets the Contours apart is its philosophy of patience. Rather than rushing it to market, Pewsey Vale holds this wine back for at least five years, letting bottle age coax out layers of complexity that simply can't be achieved in a young release. Winemaker Louisa Rose, one of Australia’s leading Riesling specialists, has been crafting these wines for decades, allowing the vineyard to speak clearly without the distraction of oak or excessive winemaking artefact.

In the glass, the Contours opens with classic mature Eden Valley aromas: lemon marmalade, kaffir lime leaf, beeswax, toast, and wet stones. With air, you’ll also find hints of lanolin, dried chamomile, crushed herbs, and white peach. On the palate, it’s taut, dry, and linear, with intense citrus and saline minerality wrapped in a silky texture. There’s a fine thread of acidity that carries the wine with precision and length, culminating in a finish that hums with tension and quiet power.

This is a Riesling that demands a little reflection. It rewards slow drinking, evolving over hours in the glass and showing new nuances with every swirl. It’s ideal for connoisseurs who appreciate the tertiary beauty of aged whites but also a stellar introduction for those unfamiliar with how Riesling can age.

It pairs wonderfully with seared scallops and beurre blanc, pork belly with ginger glaze, or simply salt-baked fish with lemon and herbs. For cheese, try aged Comté or an aged goat’s cheese to complement the wine’s nutty and savoury undertones.

This wine will continue to evolve for another 10 to 15 years in the cellar, gaining honeyed richness while retaining its driving core of acidity. A must-have for collectors and lovers of serious Australian Riesling.