Mac Forbes GI Spring Riesling 2021

This cuvée comes from the Strathbogie Ranges, in the state of Victoria, in south-east Australia. Riesling is grown here at altitude, with cool nights and slow ripening that help preserve natural acidity. The ancient, poor and well-drained granite soils limit the vigour of the vines and contribute to the wine’s precise character. The relative distance from maritime influence, offset by the altitude of the vineyard, creates wide temperature swings between day and night, particularly well suited to the aromatic expression and tension of the grape.

The grapes are harvested by hand and whole-bunch pressed. The must ferments naturally in old French oak barrels, where the wine is then aged on the lees for six months before bottling.

This wine reveals notes of lime, green apple and white peach, with hints of white flowers and jasmine. A more mineral dimension recalls wet stone and chalk, while a touch of ginger adds a subtle spicy lift. The palate is lively, slender and delicately supple, carried by clean acidity that balances the residual sweetness. The texture remains light and precise, with a persistent, fresh and saline finish in which citrus and minerality return.

Australia began making wine more than two centuries ago. The result is a country rich in old vines, multi-generational winemaking families and a deep-rooted knowledge of and respect for craftsmanship. Add to that a thirst for exploration and innovation, a fearless attitude and a varied portfolio of 65 wine regions across many climates, and you have the makings of an extraordinary wine country like few others. Australia burst onto export markets in the 1980s and has since offered the whole world vibrant, fruity wines of exceptional value. Until the late 1990s and early 2000s, the story of Australian wine was dominated by over-concentrated examples of Shiraz, Grenache and red blends. Between these two extremes lies the diversity of Australia's high-quality and regional wines, which has always existed. Australian viticulture is mainly concentrated along the southern ocean fringe, where conditions are cooler. There are four main wine regions, located around the 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 4th largest exporter in the world in 2011. This recent development has made Australia one of the most prominent countries today for the quality of its wines. You can taste Australian wines all over 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.