In the parlance of modern collaborations, this is ‘Egon Muller x Adelaide Hills Riesling’. The Echunga vineyard is at 400+ metres above sea level and the winemaking is handled by Muller, set to a bone dry style. It’s a wine I cellared through its first releases, but sort of lost touch with, only to reacquaint in recent years.
This is a smashing release and yet it’s pretty exotic too. There’s a whiff of something smoky and nutty/mealy in the bouquet, but that’s coupled to pot pourri floral notes and a raft of stone fruit and appley things. The palate is all brisk juice and tangy, cucumber-meets-mineral water flavours. That sounds simple, but the wine is decidedly not, just subtle, finessed and set to earlier drinking than expected. It’s clearly in the more sour spectrum of riesling, but never overt in that way either. Glorious drinking.
Rated : 93 Points
Tasted : DEC14
Alcohol : 13%
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2014 - 2020