2024 Castle Rock Estate Porongurup Riesling, Great Southern

Very pale lemon tints in the glass. A fragrant nose of jasmine, lime curd and crushed chalk. Palate has wonderful power without weight, apple and lime fruits lift with crushed white quartz minerality and a hint of baker's yeast adding depth. Acidity and grip work in harmony to balance the sweetness while offering great carry and precision into the long finish 10 Feb 2025 Drink 2025–2039

93 points Stuart Knox therealreview.com

Castle Rock Estate Riesling from Porongurup is a benchmark Australian cool-climate Riesling, renowned for its purity, precision and age-worthiness. Grown on the elevated, granite-strewn slopes of the Porongurup Range in Western Australia’s Great Southern region, this wine consistently delivers exceptional clarity of fruit, tension and mineral drive. Winemaker Rob Diletti has earned widespread acclaim for his deft touch with Riesling, and this wine is a standout example of his understated, terroir-focused style.

The fruit is hand harvested and whole bunch pressed, with a slow, cool fermentation in stainless steel to preserve vibrancy and aromatics. There's no oak, no malolactic fermentation — just crystal-clear expression of site and grape.

The nose opens with lifted aromas of lime zest, lemon blossom, green apple and a distinct flinty edge. On the palate, it is dry and linear, with taut acidity and flavours of lime juice, grapefruit, jasmine and crushed quartz. There’s a steely backbone and a chalky, textural finish that lingers with precision and length.

Food pairing: perfect with oysters, grilled prawns, Thai green curry, fresh goats’ cheese or Vietnamese rice paper rolls. Also excellent with lightly spiced vegetarian dishes or sushi.

Cellar potential: exceptional. Delicious young for its tension and fruit clarity, but built to age gracefully for 10 to 20 years, developing complex notes of toast, honey, and lanolin.