-
96
/ 100
Jeni Port - Wine Pilot -
95
/ 100
Gary Walsh -
95
/ 100
Huon Hooke
White
Classification
Riesling
Variety
2022
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
Australia
Country
Western Australia, Frankland River
Region
12.5%
Alcohol %
5-10 Years
Cellaring
Scores
96 / 100"The easy bit is to talk about the complexity, precision, the inherent power and confidence that resides in the 2022 Isolation Ridge Riesling. The hard bit is to explain why. The 2022 vintage was cool-ish and winemaker, Hunter Smith, talks of “extended hang time” on the vine for the fruit. The Smith family has also been working on building in texture and added presence in recent years in the form of picking riper fruit, nine months on lees and around eight per cent of wine now sees time in oak. Every little one per center comes together in the glass. Striking citrus notes, green apple, preserved lemon, leaf aromas mix with lifted honeysuckle florals. At first, it appears fine-boned, but then it builds in presence, depth, texture and tension. The drinker becomes mere putty under its spell. You can’t talk about the wine without reference to the acidity which both glides and provides real tension – and interest – as it brings together all the elements, while standing out as a true, attractive feature. In the immediate future it will bring tangy acid drive; in the long-term that acidity will contribute considerable age worthiness."
- Jeni Port - Wine Pilot
95 / 100
"Riesling is the Frankland Estate signature grape, and gee they do a good job of it. Very different to most Australian Riesling too. Pie apple, lime, plenty of spice, mint and aniseed. It’s chalky, rich in flavour, all lime and apple, with a nutty and chalk dust texture, lots of oomph, almost into Chardonnay weight, with a slight petrol perfume, and excellent length. Crushed fennel seed, guava and apple on the finish. Powerful and very ‘mineral’. Lime zest and Parmesen rind too. Lots of grip. Loads of personality. Terrific."
- Gary Walsh
95 / 100
"Light yellow-straw colour with a slaty and lime/lemon aroma, very fresh, bright and intense, leading into a similarly intense and refined but focused palate, where the slaty mineral notes bounce off the subtle sweetness and fruit intensity in an almost Germanic way. Glorious stuff. A wine that drinks well now and will age superbly"
- Huon Hooke
Tasting Notes
Frankland Estate are one of the leading producers in the Frankland River region of WA. Family owned and operated since 1988, their major focus is on certified organically grown fruit that reflects its terroir rather than the hand of the winemaker.
If you're a fan of Australian Riesling, then Frankland Estate's Isolation Ridge release just has to be in your cellar. This wine really paints the picture of what Hunter Smith and the Frankland Estate team believe Great Southern Riesling should taste like.
These are organically-grown, single vineyard wines of startling purity and intensity. Absolutely top of the Riesling tree in Aus.The Frankland Estate wines are truly one of the country's premier Rieslings. Try them while you can!
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity