Two Paddocks Riesling - 2017

About the wine

Two Paddocks Riesling is an estate grown, single block selection made from fruit grown at Two Paddocks’ Red Bank Vineyard situated in the Earnscleugh district of Alexandra, Central Otago. As in the vineyard, this wine was hand crafted using traditional methods and bottled early to ensure all the integrity and vitality of the wine was preserved. The soils in this block are well draining schist loam and the vines tend to thrive. Additionally the typically extreme summer diurnal temperatures experienced in Alexandra are responsible for both metabolising (softening) acidity during the day and then bright freshness is retained from the significantly cooler nights – all this really means is that we feel a drier and more textural wine style is both possible and appropriate.

Tasting Notes

Vintage Comment:
After a very mild winter the soil temperature at the beginning of Spring was warmer than usual resulting in a solid growth start with reasonable bud burst conditions. The fruit set (bunch formation) was in the first week of December and was relatively consistent. This set up a reasonable and balanced crop load on the Red Bank Vineyard Riesling blocks. After this period ‘The Wind’ started and was relentless until the start of March, when thankfully the more typical warm and dry late summer weather patterns of Central Otago were experienced until harvest in April. Hand harvested on the 15^th of April 2017.

Vineyard Management:
Crafted from a tiny half-hectare block at Two Paddocks Red Bank Vineyard at Earnscleugh, Central Otago, which consistently produces the ripest and most intense riesling on the estate. All grapes are grown using organic principles, hand harvested and fermented in stainless steel.

Winemaker’s Notes:
Spicy lemon balm and citrus aromatics on the nose. Leads to an elegant silky textural palate with the wine showing good tension, depth and persistence.

Proprietor: Sam NeillViticulturist: Mike WingWinemaker: Dean Shaw

pH 3.17 TA 7.6 g/l Alc: 13 % R/S 8 g/L

Bottled: Jan 2018 Total Production: 150 casesCellar: 2017 – 2022