2022 Dukes K2 Riesling, Porongurup

A hyper-intense fragrant bouquet, lifted dried wildflowers, lemon pith, dry straw and dried herb aromas. The wine is tremendously intense and delicate at the same moment; a wonderful mouthful of riesling, scintillating freshness and intensity delivered with harmony and great persistence. Mouth-waterting acidity and tremendous poise. 22 Aug 2023 Drink 2024–2037

97 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com

Duke’s Vineyard K2 Riesling from Porongurup in Western Australia’s Great Southern has become one of the most celebrated Rieslings in the country, regularly lauded by critics for its purity, intensity and remarkable ageing potential. Duke Ranson and his wife Hilde established the vineyard in 1999 on the slopes of the Porongurup Range, a site blessed with ancient granite soils and a cool maritime climate. These conditions, combined with meticulous vineyard care and a philosophy of minimal intervention, have positioned Duke’s Rieslings among the very best in Australia.

The Porongurup subregion is known for its high elevation and cooling ocean breezes, which slow ripening and preserve acidity while allowing full flavour development. The K2 Riesling is the estate’s flagship white, sourced from estate-grown vines that thrive on the granite-based soils. Winemaking is restrained: hand-harvested fruit, whole-bunch pressing, and cool fermentation in stainless steel to capture aromatics and precision. No oak is used, ensuring a crystal-clear expression of terroir.

In the glass, the wine is pale straw with green hues. The bouquet is strikingly pure, offering lime zest, lemon blossom and green apple layered with wet slate, talc and hints of jasmine. The palate is taut, bone-dry and intensely flavoured, driven by citrus and orchard fruits balanced by electric acidity and a chalky mineral line. It finishes long, focused and mouth-watering, with the kind of tension that signals great cellaring potential.

Food pairings reflect its racy freshness: oysters, scallop ceviche, grilled whiting, or vegetarian options like goat’s cheese tart, Vietnamese salads or asparagus with lemon. While thrillingly vibrant in youth, the K2 Riesling is built to age for 15 years or more, developing honeyed, toasty and lanolin complexity while retaining its core of citrus freshness.