THE 2011 Frankland Estate rieslings could be the best group of wines that released by the winery so far.
The estate is in the isolated Frankland River region of the Great Southern, where a growing number of Australia’s finest rieslings are beginning to emerge.
Over many years owners and winemakers Judi Cullam and Barrie Smith, and now son Hunter, have taken extraordinary, challenging and expensive steps, with a vision well beyond the Frankland River region’s status in the riesling world to unselfishly promote both their releases – and the variety in general – to the international world of riesling lovers.
Their series of Australia-wide international riesling tastings and seminars and generosity are becoming the stuff of wine industry legend.
With the possible exception of the 2002 release, this is the best riesling under this label to date.
While it would be marvellous with food this summer, it is round, dry, upfront and long and the fruit quality illustrates the Great Southern’s international potential with this variety.
This will improve and drink at its best from 2015 to 2030 onwards.
Lovely and lively now, this will relax to be among Australia’s finest drinking whites by 2013.
18.2points RRP $31.75
The 2011 Netley Road Riesling is a newcomer to the range and is made from selected parcels of 45-year-old Frankland River riesling vines that the winery has recently gained access to.
During the past 25 to 30 years these established patches of vines have consistently won national show circuit gold medals and trophies against Australia’s finest.
It is wonderful for WA’s rapidly growing upmarket riesling image that this fruit continues in the hands of a winery that treasures riesling grapes.
There are no soft, fresh, pretty and aromatic riesling characters here.
This is a wine that is lean, long, dry and powerfully structured and full of uncompromising character.
This is serious quality fruit and it too has ageing potential beyond 20 years.
18.3pts and RRP $27.50