Product Description
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Richard Hamilton, Watervale, Riesling, 2019, Clare Valley, South Australia
Producer Profile
Richard Hamilton Wines are reflective of the distinctive McLaren Vale region with its Mediterranean climate producing great value, fruit driven wines. The Hamilton family have been involved in winemaking and grape growing for five generations. Dr Richard Hamilton now continues his family’s long tradition of involvement in the wine industry.
Richard Hamilton are great value wines from vineyards which consistently produce wines of award-winning quality.
Viticulture
Richard Hamilton Wines has some of the oldest vines in the region, including the vineyard that produces the Centurion Old Vines Shiraz, vines which were established in 1892. Planted by Richards’ father, Burton, there is also Old Vine Grenache and Shiraz from 1963 and Cabernet Sauvignon from 1968. However, the majority of the vines are between 10 and 30 years old, planted since Richard progressively purchased properties in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
Each of the vineyards has a different soil structure however the majority are sandy with low fertility.
Lee Harding, Viticulturist – A passion for horticulture and mechanics sparked Lee’s interest in viticulture. With over 20 years’ experience in both the Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale regions, Lee has been with the company since 2001. He is responsible for management of all operations of the McLaren Vale vineyards and works closely with winemaker Paul Gordon to ensure the vines maintain good health and produce optimum fruit quality. Lee has an encyclopedic knowledge of viticulture, soil structures and micro-climates of the individual vineyards, as well as the seasonal weather patterns of the region – imperative to providing the right duty of care in differing conditions.
Winemaking
Harvesting took place in the cold of the early morning and grapes were able to be placed in the air-bag press within minutes of picking. Following cold settling where contact with juice solids occurred for several days, the juice was racked with some of those solids and fermented with an aromatic yeast strain. Following fermentation, the wine was allowed to settle on its yeast lees then ultimately receives a light fining to aid clarification. This is wine in its purest form – elegant and stylish – from a single vineyard and a single fermenter.
Tasting Note
South Australia’s beautiful Clare Valley is famous for its pure, crisp, limey Rieslings, and the Watervale district produces some of its very best examples. Winemaker Paul Gordon is a master of the style.
Bright pale gold. Fresh honey and toast over ripe lemony fruit. Clean and dry, intense and strongly varietal with creamed honey characters adding to the tight core of fruit, fresh acidity and a very flavoursome finish.
Goes well with
Fresh oysters.
Cellaring
Drinking well already and will continue to improve with careful cellaring for 5-7 years.
Don’t just take our word for it…
90 Points – 2021 James Halliday Wine Companion
Features
Varieties: Riesling 100%
Colour: White
ABV: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Style: Still Wine
Case Size: 12 x 75cl
Country: Australia
Region: Clare Valley
Vintage: 2019
