Crawford River Riesling 2023
Wow what a stunning wine here! It reaffirms our thoughts that Belinda Thomson is crafting Australia's best Riesling. 2023 was a cool vintage allowing incredible ripeness to form with natural acidity remaining perfectly in play. However, it wasn't without risk, Belinda's choice to let this fruit hang out for an incredible 5 extra weeks after the Strata was picked was a genius decision but one that lost her many nights of sleep.
Anyway, to the wine - the concentration and density here is stunning, truly unlike any other Aussie Riesling. It's aromatics leap from the glass with white stone fruit, ginger, kaffir lime and a hint of savoury spice. It's powerful yet electric. Chalky phenolic grip is layered through the mouth yet laser like acidity drives the wines precisely, humming alongside luxurious citrus fruit. You could put this in a line up with German GG Riesling and it would outperform many! Bravo. Jeremy Muller, FWC.
I have enjoyed many opportunities to taste some great German G.G’s in recent months, including Wittmann, Robert Weil, Gunderloch, Burklin-Wolf, Rebholz and Christmann. In terms of quality, Crawford River could happily sit in a tasting with these wines!!!
2023 was a cool, late vintage for Crawford River. The concentration and intensity are stunning. Power with finesse. Fresh lemon blossom nose and palate, kaffir, ginger spice. Wonderful minerality from early on the palate with zesty acid plus a long chalky length. Amazing now or with a long life ahead of it. Be quick. Ian Cook, FWC.