A few years back I attended the launch of a Pewsey Vale Riesling with winemaker Louisa Rose. Pewsey Vale’s The Contours Riesling has always been released as a five year-old wine in the past and while that’s a step in the right direction Louisa did mention that she’d love to see it hit the shelves as a ten year-old wine. Her wish has been granted. The label has been under screwcap since its inception and it’s terrific that the public now have the opportunity to buy high quality dry Eden Valley Riesling at a significant stage of maturity.
Time has seen the wine gain more palate weight and bottle aged characters are beginning to blossom. Buttered toast, lanolin and lime marmalade with a bit of leatherwood honey. What’s just as exciting is how well some of the primary characters are presenting. There’s enough fresh citrus tinged acidity, a little jasmine and some the gin and tonic traits I associate with the vineyard. Detail and definition remain but complexity is ratcheted up. Hints of guava, orange and melon rind. Absolutely no kerosene. I imagine this will live another ten years or more judging from its current stage of development. 93+
Region: Eden Valley
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $55
Tasted: January 2014
Winemaker passion wins over cash flow! Would love to try this alongside a few others loitering in the cellar.
Yalumba took their legendary Library tasting on the road and to the public in 2012. If they ever do it again Bob then it’s amazing experience not to be missed.
http://winewilleatitself.com/2012/05/14/yalumba-library-tasting-brisbane-2012-the-night-at-the-museum/
I’ve always had a thing for aged rieslings (and don’t mind a touch of kero very now and again – shock horror!!!) and Hunter Semillons. My Uni days way way back in the 70′s were spent sneaking into hidden away tasting rooms in various not to be named wineries mainly in the Hunter, access sometimes gained by pretending to be with anyone who turned up in a Benz or Jag and looked wealthy, and I’ve always had a few oldies tucked away. A bit of #fuckyoucork every now and again but also some lovely surprises. Buggered if I know how I afforded to buy anything – but lots of dishwashing and other shitty jobs seemed to give me a few bucks.
That’s more or less how I pay for the wine I buy now
I tried a bottle of the 2003 Contours a bit over four years ago. Similar overall impressions, but I rated it more highly (95-96). Not a wine in a hurry. I thought it superlative. Some playful spritz and – yes – not kero, which I now view as something of a fault with Riesling. I’ve not been as impressed by more recent Contours offerings.
I suspect my score was slightly affected by thoughts of how much improvement it has left in it – which is perhaps unfair of me. I can certainly see it warranting another one or two points in time. In many ways it’s still remarkably youthful.
I don’t follow The Contours Riesling as closely as I’d like. I spent a little time with the 2006 and thought it a good wine but not something I loved. I did enjoy the 2008 which I had late last year. 2004 was another vintage I rated highly (from memory) and I’ll be keen to taste it as a ten year old wine when it is re-released later this year. Never did try the 2005 and 2007 models.
Not tried the 2008 yet. 2004 was a good wine, and I’ve enjoyed 2 or 3 bottles. A bit more early evolving though. The others (2005 and 2007) were solid but didn’t compel me to cellar any. I expected more from the 2005. 2 bottles tried, but never really bowled me over. I’m not sure all vintages will necessarily be peaking at 10 years. Horses for courses.
If you could only choose one bottle to show someone what beautiful aged Eden Valley Riesling can be, which would you choose between the Contours, Mesh, and Henschke Julius?
The major issue is that I haven’t tasted enough Eden Valley Rieslings at ten years plus. I’ve never tasted a Julius beyond 9 years of age. So I’m going to go with the 2002 Pewsey Vale The Contours even though it was ridiculously young at ten years of age and certainly needed another decade to really suit my tastes. Awesome wine though.
I’m in much the same boat. Hopefully I’ll be able to answer my own question with wines from the cellar over the next 5 years or so!
I suspect many people fall into that category. Much easier to get hold of 10 year plus Clare Valley Rieslings in my experience. Not exactly sure why that is.