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    St. Andrews

    Riesling 2016

    Result Bronze 0

    Result Silver 0

    Result Gold 0

    Result Max 0

    Result Trophy 0

    Hedonistic and tightly focused, this exceptionally balanced wine displays lemon, lime and a seamless spine of natural acidity leading to a finish of extraordinary length.
    TEST Download full winemaker notes

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    Honours and awards
    Accolades

    Honours and awards

    • Wine Show
    • Award
    • El Concurso International Vinus 2021
    • Double Gold
    • Australian Wine showcase Magazine New Release Tasting 2021
    • Gold
    • Catavinum World Wine & Spirit Competition 2021
    • Gold
    • New York International Wine Competition 2021
    • Gold
    • World Wine Championships Awards BTI 2021
    • Gold
    • International Wine Awards 2021
    • Gold
    • Asia Wine Trophy 2021
    • Gold
    • Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition 2021
    • Gold
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    Wine details
    VITAL STATISTICS

    Wine details

    • At release, the wine is a very pale straw colour with a slight green tinge to the edge. It displays classic zesty lemon and lime aromas along with faint orange blossom and talc. The wine is has a beautiful linear focus to the palate and purity of fruit flavours. There are lashings of fresh lemon/lime juice characters up front and subtle minerality across the mid-palate. It is backed up by a persistent and refreshing finish.

    • The aim is to craft a wine of delicacy and finesse that will age well. To this end, the juice was extracted using gentle whole berry pressing to protect the delicate fruit flavours and prevent any extraction of course phenolic character. It is then chilled quickly to just under 10 degrees C. The entire process occurring within ~15 minutes of harvest to ensure the true varietal and regional characters are captured and retained. The juice was allowed to cold settle for 24 hrs before being racked off gross lees. A cool fermentation was carried out in stainless steel vessels, using a relatively neutral yeast strain to preserve varietal characteristics. The fermentation was completed to a natural level of dryness. Minimal fining and filtration was employed prior to bottling in September 2015.

    • In the growing season leading up to vintage 2016, rainfall was below average and whilst we saw only around 76% of the long term average fall, it was not the amount that had the biggest impact however; it was the timing of the rainfall. Mother Nature saw fit to dole out just the right amount of water at just the right time for maximum positive impact on the vine's health and importantly, the quality of the fruit produced. In fact, this was just one of the factors at play when it comes to vintage 2016 being lauded as one of the great vintages. Firstly, the vines were 'stress free' heading into the winter period, allowing them to store extra nutrients and creating the potential for a superior fruit crop in 2016. Secondly, conditions were ideal during flowering which set us up for good yields and then lastly, whilst it was a relatively dry spring, the threat of frost did not eventuate. All these conditions combined to create what called be described as 'the perfect storm' and the vineyard and winemaking team were excited about the quantity and quality of the fruit as they commenced harvesting. Of the whites, both the Chardonnay and Riesling varieties look particularly outstanding but with general reports of amazing flavour and acid structure being applied across all varieties.

    • Clare Valley

      • Acid: 8.95
      • Alc %: 12.7
      • PH: 2.80
      • Residual Sugar: 0.2

    • Under ideal conditions this wine should cellar well to 2036, possibly longer.

    Download full winemaker notes

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    Reviews
    EXPERT APPRAISALS

    Reviews

    • New Release Tasting

      9 Jan 2016
      93/100
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    • drinks business: Global Riesling Masters

      1 Jan 2017
      Bronze
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    • Mary Ann Worobiec,

      5 Jan 2017
      88 Points
      The lime and grapefruit flavors are intense and focused, with accents of melon and peach blossom lingering on the crisp finish. Drink now.
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    • New releases from Down Under

      6 Jan 2017
      92/100
      The St. Andrews is also bone dry, but it’s also densely flavored with notes of zesty citrus, dried stone fruit, roasted almond, and herbal tea. It finishes extra long with superb, lingering, rich extract. Delicious!
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    • John Fordham, From the Vine

      6 Jan 2017
      From the Taylor family’s Clare Valley estate, this single-vineyard wine is rightfully in a class of its own. Drinking so invitingly now, its appeal will blossom with time when its true greatness will ultimately unfold. A wine without fault, a delicious amalgam of fresh citrus flavours.
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    • Peter Chapman, Views on the Vine

      6 Jan 2017
      93/100
      Drinking well now, but the winemaker suggests this will grow into an even better wine with 5-10 years in the cellar.
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    • Nick Stock, Take Note: Real Australian Wine Is Here

      7 Jan 2017
      92/100
      A tart, lemon and lime style with succulent acid draw, powdery palate texture and a juicy, assertive, driving finish. Drink now.
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    • Des Houghton, Freaking right out on Riesling

      8 Jan 2017
      A straw-coloured showstopper with lovely perfumes, an acid spice and great length.
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    • Robert Lublin, Review: Wines of Wakefield

      11 Jan 2017
      B+
      In the past, I have described wines as “tart” and having “bracing acidity,” but I don’t think I fully appreciated the terms until trying this Riesling. It is almost too much. But when the wine is coupled with food (I tried it with spicy Indian food), it comes alive. The wine presents lemon and subtle apple on the nose. The lemon notes continue on the palate along with sharp acidity, fine minerality, and a touch of peach. The wine is bright and citrusy, but absolutely dry. St. Andrews Riesling is enjoyable now but still very tight. I wonder how much better it will get with a few years of aging.
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    • Frederic Koeppel, Wine of the Day, No. 335

      12 Jan 2017
      Here’s a lovely riesling for the Christmas goose. The Taylors “St. Andrews” Riesling 2016, hails from Australia’s Clare Valley, a superb region for the grape. The color is very pale straw-gold; seeing no oak, it’s a wine of crystalline clarity and structure, tremendously vibrant and present on the palate; aromas of green apple, lychee and pear are infused with pungent notes of petrol — or call it rubber eraser — and lime peel, with an undertone of ripe mango; quickly, a seam of limestone and flint emerges in the mouth to provide a scintillating factor, which, added to the wine’s bright acidity, provides wonderful refreshment and tone. The flavor profile balances citrus with stone-fruit elements that surge toward a vibrant, mineral-packed finish. 12.7 percent alcohol. Wholly satisfying now, but suitable for drinking as it matures through, say, 2026 to ’30, properly stored. Excellent.
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    • Australian Riesling Panel Tasting

      4 Jan 2018
      91 Points
      Racy fruit, like lime marmalade generously spread over toasted brioche. A whiff of struck match reduction lingers and evolves into a honeyed finish.’
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    • Christina Pickard,

      6 Jan 2018
      Lemon, blossoms and a slight kerosene nose lead into a prickly, slippery texture, with lemon-lime and wet stone flavors. A classic example of Clare Valley Riesling.
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    • James Halliday,

      8 Jan 2017
      95 Points
      Machine-harvested, no frills cool stainless steel fermentation. It all lies in the fruit selection, here a block planted with a Pewsey Vale clone. It is a very good wine with purity and intensity underpinning the vibrantly fresh palate and long finish. Citrus/orange blossom aromas and flavours are just as they should be.
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