2021 Castle Rock A & W Reserve Riesling, Porongurup

The pinnacle of rieslings made at Castle Rock, and a scintillatingly true, pristine expression of Porongurup. Green apples, white spring florals (jasmine, stephanotis, honeysuckle), crushed chalk and hints of juniper. Fine saline acidity is the thread that pulls it all together. It is delicate, but it is so long; the flavour enduring, dragging out the finish. You must be prepared for a quiet wine here, however once you are attuned to the tone it is possible to hear the reverberations long after the wine is gone.

95 points Special Value Erin Larkin winecompanion.com.au

Castle Rock A and W Reserve Riesling is one of Australia’s great cool climate Rieslings and a true expression of the unique Porongurup landscape in Western Australia’s Great Southern. The vineyard sits high on the ancient granite slopes of the Porongurup Range, a dramatically old formation with shallow soils, cold nights and a long, slow ripening season. This combination delivers Riesling of striking purity, tension and longevity.

Castle Rock Estate is a family run winery founded by Angelo and Wendy Figliomeni, whose initials give this wine its name. A and W Reserve represents the pinnacle of their Riesling program, produced only in the best years from low yielding vines and handled with an unwavering focus on precision. The approach is traditional and patient, allowing the vineyard to speak clearly without embellishment.

In the glass, this Riesling is tightly coiled and intensely aromatic. Lime juice, kaffir lime leaf and lemon blossom lead, followed by hints of green apple, wet stone and a distinctly saline mineral note drawn from the granite soils. The palate is bone dry, razor sharp and beautifully linear, driven by bracing natural acidity and a chalky texture that gives real presence without weight. The finish is long, steely and mouth watering, lingering with citrus and mineral clarity.

This is a Riesling built for the table and the cellar. It pairs effortlessly with oysters, shellfish, grilled fish, sashimi and aromatic Asian dishes, and it also shines with simple poultry and fresh herb driven cuisine. While compelling in its youth for its precision and energy, Castle Rock A and W Reserve Riesling is renowned for its ageing potential. Over ten to twenty years it develops layers of citrus oil, toast, spice and classic Riesling complexity while retaining its structural backbone.

Castle Rock A and W Reserve Riesling is a benchmark Australian Riesling. Pure, uncompromising and deeply connected to place, it stands alongside the finest Rieslings made anywhere in the world and continues to define Porongurup as one of Australia’s most distinctive Riesling regions.