Pewsey Vale 1961 Block Riesling

Pewsey Vale Vineyard 1961 Block Riesling bottle image

Wine Description

The 2017 vintage marks the inaugural release of the Pewsey Vale Vineyard 1961 Block Riesling - a new interpretation of Riesling from this historic vineyard. The 1961 Block comes from the oldest vines at Pewsey Vale.

accordion plus icons
Acclaim
“The 2022 1961 Block Riesling hails from a broadly similar vintage to the 2021 that preceded it; that is to say, it was even, mild and long, with some variances in rainfall between the two years and a very unfortunate hail event late in October 2021, but otherwise, it was a very good vintage. It leads with lavender, a hint of calendula/chamomile, soap/toast and mashed green peppercorns. The wine is soft and pillowy and really quite savory. The acid feels softer and less terse than last year and, overall, the wine less strict. I quite liked that character. Regardless, it's a lovely wine and one that will please drinkers in the shorter term as well as over the medium-plus years.” — Wine Advocate, May 2024
“A cool, voluminous year. Pointed scents of bosc apple, lemon drop, mint, spiced quince and brown pear. As phenolic as it is fresh, this is reminiscent of a structured, gently mid-weighted Alsatian style, more savory and toothsome than the Australian norm. Quite excellent. Old vine vinosity breeds length and a latent forcefulness that never, mercifully, digresses from an elegant, juicy acid trail across the palate. Very fine Australian riesling.” — James Suckling, Aug 2023
View more acclaim Arrow Right
accordion plus icons
Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Pewsey Vale Vineyard
Soil composition
grey sandy loam
Elevation:
1,500 feet
Certifying Organizations:
ISO14001; Entwine Australia
Sustainability Certification:
EPA Acredited Sustainability Licence
accordion plus icons
Winemaking & Aging
Prefermentation Technique:
1-4 days on solids before wild yeast start to ferment
Varietal composition:
100% Riesling
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Malolactic fermentation:
no
Fining agent:
Vegan
Type of aging container:
bottle
accordion plus icons
Analytical Data
pH level:
3.16
Acidity:
6.87 g/L
Alcohol:
12.5 %
Residual sugar:
2.5 g/L
accordion plus icons
Wine Production

The growing season started with a wet winter and spring, filling up the soils, giving the vines a good start. Spring and early summer temperatures were mild and below average, resulting in a long and even ripening period. These ideal conditions for grape growing allowed us to make optimal picking decisions. The warm and dry days during late summer and autumn, combined with cool nights, lead to pristine fruit flavors and great acid retention. The grapes are hand picked and the juice wild fermented and aged for a few months on lees before bottling and release.

accordion plus icons
About the Vineyard

Located in the centre of the amphitheatre on a gentle slope that faces due north and embraces the sun from its first to its last rays, this block is the dress circle of Pewsey Vale. The contours that the vineyard is planted on form natural terraces that maximise the effectiveness of the precious rain when it falls and helps to stop any erosion of the ancient gravel soil. This wine is proof that a healthy biodiverse vineyard needs little winemaking intervention as the grapes and yeast from the vineyard combine perfectly to make this wine.