Grosset 'Springvale' Watervale Riesling 2011
Some Clare rieslings have suffered this year but here’s proof generalisations are pointless. A classic Grosset without a molecule out of place, singing with a fragrance of white flowers and citrus blossom. It’s poised, pure and lively, lingering with mineral structure and sensational line and length. 95 Points Tyson Stelzer Wine Taste Weekly Edition 28 19 August: Drink 2011 – 2012 or 2018 – 2023
Situated off Springvale Road in one of the highest parts of Watervale, Grosset’s six hectare vineyard is on a gentle slope with red loamy soil over limestone. This is a single site white with 30 previous vintages of Grosset Watervale Riesling giving it a remarkable provenance. There was a time when wine writers, with plenty of justification, described the Watervale Riesling as the wine to drink while you waited for the ‘Polish Hill’ to be less tight, ungiving and steely. While the ‘Springvale’ doesn’t have the austerity of the ‘Polish Hill’, it appears to have crept closer to its sibling in quality terms and ageability.
The 2011 Grosset Springvale Riesling has wonderful, ethereal aromatics, fragrant lemongrass and freshly squeezed lime, intense lime pith and pure lemony flavours with some wet pebble minerals notes, a mid-palate fleshiness before its tight, lean structure follows through to a cleansing minerally finish that is slatey, powerfully focused and piercingly long.
General Cellaring Guide: Enjoy now or cellar 5-12 years.
Release date: 1 September 2011
The 2011 Grosset Springvale Riesling has wonderful, ethereal aromatics, fragrant lemongrass and freshly squeezed lime, intense lime pith and pure lemony flavours with some wet pebble minerals notes, a mid-palate fleshiness before its tight, lean structure follows through to a cleansing minerally finish that is slatey, powerfully focused and piercingly long.
According to Langton's Australian Fine Wine Guide, ‘The (Grosset) Watervale Riesling is a classic Clare style. If Polish Hill is power and intensity, Watervale is restraint and pure fruit. It evokes the expectation of a mouth-watering palate and delivers it.'
The 2009 vintage will mark the 29th consecutive vintage of Grosset Watervale riesling, referred to in recent years as ‘Springvale’ after the estate owned vineyard. With its listing as one of the 'Top 5 Most Collected Australian White Wines' by Wine Ark plus the reaffirmation of its 'Excellent' rating by Langtons, both in August this year, Grosset Springvale appears to have finally arrived. One thing the 2009 vintage shows in particular is that it continues to resemble the Polish Hill more than ever before, certainly in terms of quality and finesse. The 2009 vintage appears to have outstanding potential. Certainly, Grosset is grinning quietly.
The 2009 Grosset Springvale is quite closed and restrained at present, has pure intense lemon juice and lime flavours with slatey, minerally notes, is powerful, tight and steely with taut, dry, mouth-puckering acidity that lingers. It is fine and succulent with a zesty persistence that takes the wine deep and long.
General Cellaring Guide: Enjoy now or cellar 5-12 years
