2025 Frankland Estate Isolation Ridge Riesling, Frankland River

Frankland Estate was founded in 1988 by Barrie Smith and Judi Cullam deep in the Frankland River subregion of Western Australia's Great Southern, about as remote as Australian wine gets.

The second generation now runs the estate: brother and sister Hunter and Elizabeth Smith, with Elizabeth's husband Brian Kent as winemaker since 2010. They were raised on the land and live on it, which shapes everything about how the vineyard is managed and how the wines are made; organic conversion began in 2005, with full certification achieved for the 2009 harvest.

Their Isolation Ridge vineyard is built on ironstone gravel over clay — the family call it coffee rock — fragile, infertile soils that reward with wines that carry a distinctly savoury, ferrous signature alongside generous fruit and natural acidity. The Southern Ocean's influence and cool nights ensure the fruit hangs long into autumn without losing freshness or energy.

To quote the Smith siblings:  the Isolation Ridge is their best Riesling. From the original 1988 plantings, the wine is built for both immediate pleasure and genuine longevity. Extended lees ageing develops textural complexity, and a small portion sees time in seasoned oak, just enough to add depth without leaving a mark.

The 2025 is the newest release from a vineyard that has drawn consistent praise from critics for years. What marks this wine out is the core — dense and focused, with lime, crushed slate and a savoury undercurrent that gives it real presence on the palate. The acidity is fine and purposeful rather than simply bright, and the finish carries that characteristic chalky-mineral tension long after the fruit has settled.

Poached ocean trout with a light herb dressing, or a slow-cooked pork dish with fennel and citrus — anything that meets the wine's natural precision halfway. An aged bottle will have you reaching for altogether different recipes.

This wine is vegan friendly.