2024 Murdoch Hill Sulky Riesling, Adelaide Hills

Fresh as a daisy! Lemon and lime juice characters reign supreme with an ambient jasmine presence and slight lanolin slip to it. Will pair well with Pad Thai, laab or sushimi, and the acidity is such that food should be a requisite.

92 points Katrina Butler winecompanion.com.au

Murdoch Hill Sulky Riesling from Adelaide Hills is a fresh and finely etched expression of cool climate Riesling with a slightly wild, textural edge. Sourced from vineyards in the high-altitude Lenswood subregion, the fruit benefits from rocky soils and a long, slow ripening season that builds flavour while preserving crisp natural acidity.

Winemaker Michael Downer gives this Riesling a gentle yet adventurous treatment. The grapes are whole bunch pressed and fermented wild in a combination of ceramic eggs and old French oak to bring out texture, detail and aromatic complexity. It’s a far cry from the squeaky-clean styles of old, favouring tension and savoury depth over sugar or gloss.

The nose offers lifted aromas of lime leaf, white flowers, green apple skin and wet slate, with a whisper of spice. The palate is taut and mineral, bursting with lemon zest, crunchy pear and tonic-like acidity. There's a fine phenolic grip that adds structure and a long, chalky finish that keeps you coming back for more.

Perfect with oysters, green mango salad, pan-fried whiting or goat cheese tart. Also excellent with Vietnamese rice paper rolls or grilled prawns with lime and coriander. Drink young for its zing and precision or cellar 6 to 8 years for added complexity and a deeper textural ride.