Pewsey Vale 1961 Block Riesling

This new expression of Riesling from the historic vineyard of Pewsey Vale offers a fresh perspective. The wine displays remarkable tautness and clarity, making it enjoyable for early drinking while also promising rewards for those who choose to cellar it.

In 1839, shortly after arriving from England, Joseph Gilbert began constructing a grand homestead in Eden Valley and planted the region’s inaugural grapevines in 1847. These vines were sourced from the Macarthur vineyards at Camden Park in New South Wales and from a collection of English glasshouse cuttings obtained from the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Chiswick. Despite falling into disuse like many vineyards in the 1920s and 30s, Pewsey Vale’s potential was fortunately rediscovered.

In 1961, pastoralist Geoffrey Angas Parsons uncovered that his property once housed the region’s earliest vineyard and shared this revelation with his good friend, vigneron Wyndham Hill-Smith. Given the interest from several wine companies in potential vineyard sites with cooler ripening conditions than those found on the Barossa Valley floor, Hill-Smith required no further persuasion. Consequently, efforts promptly commenced to revive Pewsey Vale Vineyard under Hill-Smith’s guidance.

Perched between 485 and 500 meters above sea level, Pewsey Vale Vineyard enjoys cooler temperatures and an extended ripening period that stretches into autumn, ideal conditions for cultivating the distinctive Rieslings. The grapes for this Riesling are handpicked from the oldest vines. The juice is then wild-fermented and aged on lees for several months before bottling and release. The 1961 Block wine stands as evidence that a thriving, biodiverse vineyard requires minimal winemaking intervention. The harmonious combination of grapes and indigenous yeast from the vineyard results in this captivating and evocative wine.

This wine is pure and intense, with aromas and flavours of lemon myrtle and tea tree blossom. Enhanced by a distinct crushed quartz minerality, it evokes a seamless and ageless character.