Loosen Barry Wolta Wolta Riesling 2022

Loosen Barry Wolta Wolta Riesling 2022

100% estate grown Riesling, Alc/vol 12.3%, Total Acid 7.1g/L, pH 3.01, RS 3.8g/L.

The modern-day standard bearer for all Clare Valley Riesling, Wolta Wolta, is a dry German-style Riesling, an “Aussie GG” if you will. Its name, meaning ‘Good Water’ in the Aboriginal language, was the original name given to the land on which the Barry’s famous The Lodge Vineyard is planted.

Wolta Wolta is grown on Block 18 of The Lodge Vineyard, planted in 1979.  This block was specifically chosen because of its location in a slightly cooler pocket of the vineyard, allowing for additional hang-time to coax out maximum flavour, concentration and phenolic ripeness – a nod to the methods cherished in the Mosel at Dr. Loosen. – Sam Barry, Loosen Barry

Destemmed and crushed, the fruit was then pressed into stainless steel for 12 hours to settle, before being racked into 3,000 litre German oak ‘Fuder’ cask. The wine then rested on full yeast lees for 23 months at 10˚C before being transferred to stainless steel where it sat on fine lees at 1˚C for a further 1 month.

Mineral aromas of Asian pears, peaches, white nectarines, sliced lemons and kaffir limes. The high-tension palate has racy acidity and an energetic mouthfeel with a lovely texture and reductive edge, showing slate, struck match, brine and white flowers as well as a slight phenolic grip. Excellent. Drink or hold. Screw cap. 96 points. Ryan Montgomery, JamesSuckling.com

"I think this may be the most expensive Riesling in Australia. No problem with that. There’s a swathe of Chardonnay at that price or above, and even the odd Hunter Semillon (Brokenwood ILR is the same price, albeit an aged release). This is the foudre and lees style. I do like that kind of thing, though I reckon I prefer Florita for its purity and Clareiness.

Green apple, lime rind, spice, something of a ginger biscuit thing here too, aniseed and dried flowers. It’s textured and quite powerful, lime gin and tonic, lots of chalk and grip, savoury too, with a chewy finish of excellent length. Tactile and tangy, stony and dry. Very good." 94 Points - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front