Maverick Trial Hill Vineyard Riesling 2019

This Riesling comes from the Trial Hill vineyard, in the Eden Valley, in South Australia. Its two hectares of vines are planted in a natural north-east-facing amphitheatre, between 448 and 480 metres above sea level. The climate, tempered by altitude and slightly wetter than in the neighbouring Barossa Valley, preserves the freshness of the grapes, while the schist, mica and quartz soils bring great purity.

The Maverick estate, run by Ronald Brown, is one of the pioneers of biodynamic viticulture in Australia and farms sixty-one hectares spread between Barossa and Eden. This Riesling is vinified and aged in stainless-steel tanks, with no oak, to preserve the clarity of the fruit, the tension and the mineral expression of this high-altitude terroir.

This wine reveals notes of lemongrass, lemon, green apple, macadamia, verbena, linden blossom, flint and petrol. The attack is lively, then the palate gains roundness and texture thanks to a sunny vintage. The long, clean, dry finish prolongs the notes of green apple and verbena.

Australia began producing wine more than two centuries ago. This has resulted in a country rich in old vines, multigenerational winemaking families, and a deep-rooted knowledge and respect for craftsmanship. Add to this a thirst for exploration and innovation, a fearless attitude, and a diverse portfolio of 65 wine regions across a wide range of climates, and you have the makings of an extraordinary wine nation. Australia burst onto the export scene in the 1980s and has since been offering the world vibrant, fruity, and exceptionally good-value wines. Until the late 1990s and early 2000s, the history of Australian wine was dominated by examples of Shiraz, Grenache, and overly concentrated red blends. Between these two extremes lies the diverse range of high-quality Australian wines and regional wines that has always existed. Australian viticulture is concentrated primarily along the southern coastline where conditions are cooler. There are four main wine regions, each centered around major cities: Western Australia around Perth, South Australia around Adelaide, Victoria around Melbourne, and New South Wales around Sydney. The country is one of the world's largest wine producers and was the fourth-largest exporter in 2011. This recent development has made Australia one of the most prominent countries for the quality of its wines. You can taste Australian wines throughout the country. Each Australian region has its own grape varieties. Australian wines are defined by their grape variety, unlike French wines, which are defined by their terroir.