2017 Pewsey Vale - Riesling Eden Valley The Contours (750ml)

Pewsey Vale Vineyard traces back to 1847, when English migrant Joseph Gilbert planted the first vines in the Eden Valley, producing some of Australia's earliest cool-climate wines. The Hill-Smith family has overseen the estate since 1970, expanding it to sixty-six hectares while narrowing its focus entirely to Riesling. Winemaker Louisa Rose sources The Contours from a single old-vine block planted in 1965, on the coolest slope of the vineyard, making it one of only two parcels bottled separately from the estate's main blend.

Sitting at nearly 500 meters above sea level, the vineyard benefits from cool nights and a wide swing between day and night temperatures, which lets the grapes hold onto natural acidity through a long, slow ripening season. The soils are shallow, rocky, and acidic, conditions better suited to Riesling than most other crops. After harvest, this cuvée is aged five full years in bottle before release, allowing its character to deepen well beyond what the young wine shows.

The wine pours pale straw with green hues, opening on intense lemon fruit and white flowers, joined by bottle-aged notes of toast, clove oil, and lemongrass. The palate is long and concentrated, layered with lime juice, toasted brioche, and a touch of marmalade, finishing dry and vibrant. It pairs well with roast chicken, fresh oysters, or a goat cheese salad.