Loosen Barry Wolta Wolta Riesling 2021

The 2021 vintage was a welcome relief after two dry and warm vintages in 2019 and 2020. Spring was cool and wet followed by mild summer allowing us to pick a few weeks later than in 2020. This led to more hang time and flavour development, whilst maintaining good natural acidity. The 2021 vintage is currently a bit shy so decant prior to serving.

On 24th February 2021, six tonnes of Riesling was hand harvested and sorted from Block 18 (planted in 1979) at our Wolta Wolta vineyard. We harvested the fruit at 12 .0 Baum. Fruit was stored in a cold room overnight to bring the temperature below 10C. Once destemmed and crushed, the fruit was then pressed into stainless steel for 12 hours to settle, before being racked into the 3,000 litre German oak Fuder cask. The light lees were racked which assisted a wild ferment to take place after five days. Fermentation took four weeks with the temperature maintained at 18C. When residual sugar was below 10g/L, cooling was turned on to arrest the fermentation at 5g/L, achieving sugar- acid balance. The wine then rested on full yeast lees for 16 months at 10C before being transferred to stainless steel where it sat on fine lees at 1C for a further 1 month. Our 2021 Wolta Wolta was bottled on 23rd August 2022 and, after spending 18 months in bottle, will be released on 1st March 2024.

Aromas of oyster shell, sea breeze and fun flint with a brown lime backing and fresh citrus. The wine has a silk-like softness in its acid and the fruit weight starts early and drives deep through the palate. Theres a richness to the fruit, starting with yellow melons and exotic fruits moving through citrus, brown lime and mineral, wet slate. Its laced with tension and softness. Sam Barry