The Rowlee vineyard is situated in the foothills of Mount Canobolas, 950 meters above sea level in the high altitude and cool climate region of Orange, New South Wales. The influence of Mount Canobolas, an extinct volcano, is tangible, with cooling breezes off the mountain, mitigating warm daytime temperatures, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and gather flavour. Soil is deep clay loam, red and brown, derived from basalt. This mix gives free draining soils and a mineral composition that supports the production of exceptional grapes.

Our philosophy is grounded in obsessive attention to detail, with a hands on approach in the vineyard and winery. Our aim is to create wines that are subtle, balanced and reflective of their terroir and vintage.

VINTAGE

October 2021 welcomed the beginning of budburst and the start of the 2022 vintage. Extensive work in the vineyard in the lead up to and throughout the growing season created the best possible conditions to produce exceptional cool climate fruit.

The cooler and wetter season presented its own challenges requiring long hours in the vineyard to maintain ideal vine and fruit health. Under vine mulching, application of organic fertiliser, multiple passes of leaf plucking and canopy trimming resulted in optimum fruit to leaf ratios and excellent fruit quality.

Fortunately, the rain subsided in the lead up to harvest, which eased disease pressure and allowed the fruit to ripen. The return to this classic cooler (pre-drought) vintage, resulted in the grapes showing pristine natural acidity and flavour prior to harvest in late March and early April.

These extra ripening days and extended hours in the vineyard were rewarded with an abundant harvest of exceptional complexity and subtleness, producing aromatic, elegant and flavourful wines.

VINIFICATION

Handpicked on 22 April 2022. Whole bunch pressed to minimise phenolic extraction, the juice was settled for 48 hours before racking to fermentation with a neutral yeast strain allowing clear varietal and vineyard expression. Fermentation was cool to preserve aromatic intensity, lasting approximately 14 days. Post fermentation, the wine remained on light yeast lees to build some soft mid-palate texture before minimal fining prior to bottling on 26 September 2021 .

STYLE

Mid to pale lemon yellow with a green gold hue. The nose of this wine is an amalgam of citrus and floral with distinct brown lime and abundant rose petal and lavender. Hints of mineral talc and subtle dried herbs add complexity. The palate has a soft and textured entry with lemon drops and yellow rose petal carrying through to deeper honey and very subtle pine lime notes. A fuller texture through the mid palate ensures a gentle and silky exit.

ACCOLADES

91 points, Angus Hughson, WinePilot, April 2022

91 points, Ned Goodwin, Halliday Wine Companion, July 2022

VARIETAL COMPOSITION

100% Riesling

IDEAL SERVING TEMPERATURE

8 –10°C

CELLARING POTENTIAL

Drink 2022 - 2030

FOOD MACTH

Prawn Gow Gee

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Total acid 7.2g/L
Final pH 2.98
Residual sugar 4g/L
Alcohol 12.8% by volume