2022 Longview Macclesfield Gruner Veltliner, Adelaide Hills

Very light, bright colour with a discreetly herbal and spicy bouquet, dried floral notes too, the overall impression being of intensity and interest, a fruit wine but not a simple wine. The finish is very dry and appetising 31 DEC 2022 Drink 2023–2028

90 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com

Longview Macclesfield Grüner Veltliner is one of the Adelaide Hills’ great quiet achievers, a wine that feels completely at home in the cool, elevated slopes of Macclesfield. This part of the Hills sits high and breezy, with cold nights, long ripening and soils rich in clay and ironstone over shale. It is a natural fit for Grüner Veltliner, a variety that thrives on freshness, texture and subtle savoury detail rather than overt fruit.

Longview Vineyard is a family owned estate with a strong European sensibility, and Grüner has long been one of its calling cards. Winemaker Paul White treats the variety with a light touch, picking for natural acidity and flavour clarity, fermenting gently and avoiding any winemaking tricks that would blur the line between grape and place. The aim is purity, balance and drinkability, with just enough texture to make the wine seriously food friendly.

Aromatically, the wine is bright and inviting. Nashi pear, green apple and lime zest sit alongside classic Grüner notes of white pepper, fresh herbs and a faint floral lift. There is a subtle earthy undertone that adds interest without weight, very much in keeping with Macclesfield’s cooler expression of the Hills.

On the palate, Longview Macclesfield Grüner Veltliner is crisp, textured and beautifully balanced. Pear and citrus flavours flow through the mid palate, supported by fresh acidity and a gentle phenolic grip that gives the wine shape and length. The texture is where this wine really shines, slightly chalky and mouthwatering, finishing dry with lingering spice and savoury nuance.

This is a natural at the table. It pairs brilliantly with schnitzel, roast pork, sausages, dumplings, spicy Asian dishes or fresh seafood. It is drinking beautifully now for its vibrancy and energy, but will also hold and develop extra savoury complexity over the next three to five years.

Longview Macclesfield Grüner Veltliner is confident, distinctive and deeply regional. A benchmark Australian Grüner that proves just how well the Adelaide Hills handles this versatile and endlessly drinkable variety.