2021 Whitlands Riesling

Our sixth release from Whitlands, and a very strong one at that. The Croucher Vineyard is set at close spacing on red volcanic soils, up at around 800m above sea level, and was planted in the mid-1980s. It is proper cool-climate viticulture - something I think Riesling really needs to give full expression. 2021 was a cool, wet, late and long vintage, which somehow achieved excellent ripeness (after some nervous rain events). We reverted back to a higher amount of oak fermentation (1000lt old foudre) chasing texture and softness to counter the everpresent acidity this site delivers. A little residual sugar (6g/l) adds further counterweight to the high acidity, but there is ample tropical fruit woven through the citrus and phenolic grip. Characteristic ripe lemon and tonic water flavours are all there, and I think a long life beckons, much like 2017.