Ravensworth The Grainery 2023

A blend of viognier, marsanne, roussanne. Portions are topped up, some left alone on lees. The blend is blended back across some chardonnay lees and hangs out in large format Stockinger barrel. A lot of shifting things around to get that profile up from 2023’s weaker pulse of seasonal flavour, per se. In that, the savouriness is a charm here, texture too. Clever.

All the nuts and brine, an amontillado kind of note with light, washy green apple fruit, lime juice, a gently sweet lemony profile, nashi pear too. Lots of character emerges in the lighter, looser knit frame here, but the wine ends up compelling for that savoury twist and the overall impression is a wine to savour, or to use as final condiment in the glass for something substantial on the table. Serious wine. 94 points, drink 2025-2029, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front.