-
97
/ 100
-
97
/ 100
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95
/ 100
Tasting Notes
The Zenit (German for 'Zenith') is a 'super Riesling' of sorts - which combines the best bits of fruit from both the Eden Valley and Clare Valley that John Hughes gets access to each vintage, and puts the quality on show.
There is precious little of this wine available. Dry, tightly wound, immaculately balanced and meant to be a standard bearer for all South Australian Rieslings.
It will live forever in the cellar yet has the fruit depth and flavour intensity to be excellent right now. This is John's finest classic Riesling release each year and is not to be missed, but you better swoop quick.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity
Classification: White
Variety: Riesling
Vintage: 2023
Bottle Size: 750ml (Bottle)
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia, Clare Valley
Alcohol %: 11.5%
Cellaring: Ready, but will Keep
Scores
97 / 100"Very pale colour. Cream, gardenia and lemon-pith aromas, quite ethereal. The bouquet is the most reserved of this maker's '23s. Some talcy/powder-puff aromas, restrained pot-pourri. Very dry with crisp acidity, all natural: it's the wine in this range that needs the most time and most demands to be cellared. An austere, tight wine: very intense fruit flavour supported by a solid backbone of acidity. The least ready to drink, obviously built to last. (50% Polish Hill River, 50% Flaxman Valley. Almost bone dry on the riesling scale)"
- Huon Hooke
97 / 100
"Very pale lime colour. The nose is exotic with gardenia, lime zest and roast cumin seed aromatics. Tight, almost highly strung but the fruit intensity is a match to the drive of acidity. A hint of sweetness brings a fullness to the core of the palate and provides a window into what this wine will become over time. All that power and tension ensure it carries to a prodigious length, leaving a pristine talc and citrus note lingering 11 Nov 2023"
- Stuart Knox
95 / 100
"Equal parts riesling from Polish Hill River (Clare Valley) and Flaxman Valley (Eden Valley). The gist here a 'best expression' from the Rieslingfreak resources. It's scintillating, so tightly wound and compact, so strongly driven by fine, tense acidity and distinctly minerally in its charter. Scents of lemon, ozone, warm slate and not-quite-ripe pineapple, with flavours set to more lemon, tonic water and flinty minerals. A laser-like riesling with a high velocity and energy. Brilliant stuff."
- Mike Bennie
