Poison Hill Vineyard Riesling 2019
97 Points Best of the Best, 2021 Wine Companion. "Organically certified, this address has loosened up a conventional strut of austerity, to a swagger of confident, textural detail and poise. This new stance is embellished with optimally ripe fruit evincing care, love for the land and authority. From white clay, this is a rich and spicy riesling, reminiscent of great Germanic expression sover the sour Aussie norm. A forcefield of palate-staining intensity. Vinous. Extracted righteously. Honest to place and what brings, be the alchohol a bit higher. This is juicy, powerful and complex. Compelling length. Quince, lemon oil, apricot pith and tonic." Ned Goodwin MW, 2021 Halliday Wine Companion.
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Wine Specs
Vintage
2019
Appellation
Frankland River
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Aromas of white stone fruit, citrus zest and jasmine green tea are accompanied by hints of sage and spice aromas. Delicate yet weighty, the palate is dominated with tropical fruits, spice, some talciness and pithy textural characters. While richly weighted there is a real core of acidity that gives the wine some lovely minerality and length
The undeniable balance and poise of this wine will allow for long term cellaring. A wet spring provided good early vine growth, a dry summer with some minor rain events in January and early February kept the dry grown vines in optimal health. 2017 vintage was typical of Frankland River 1990’s vintages. Harvested from 28th March. Fruit was harvested in clean and ideal condition.
Awards
Bronze Medal Wine Show of WA 2019
Vineyard Notes
Planted in 1988 the small 3 hectare Poison Hill vineyard lies just on the northern edge of the Frankland River town site. The vineyard name resulted from it being located on a hill where the Heartleaf Bush, poisonous to all but indigenous animals, is found. Poison Hill has unique white clay and weathered quartz soils that are reflected in a complex, alluringly perfumed, silky textured wine. Like all vineyards in the Frankland River region it benefits from the cool nights and long, slow ripening period prior to harvest that promote maximum flavour development while maintaining the distinctive vibrant acidity for which rieslings from this region are renowned.
Winemaker Notes
Grapes are whole bunch pressed immediately on arrival at the winery with the juice left to settle in tank over night before being racked to fermentation vessel. The wine was then fermented in tank at low temperatures (less than 15°C) over 8 weeks with minimal intervention from our winemakers in order to obtain the purest expression of the pristine fruit from the Poison Hill vineyard.
Other Notes
Certified Organic, Vegan Friendly
Product Reviews
Vintage 2016 - Toni Paterson, www.therealreview.com
(14/09/2017 at 2:13 PM)
“An outstanding single vineyard wine from Frankland River. Aromatically engaging with gentle lime juice and blossom aromas. The palate has a core of sweet-lemon creating a mouth-watering sensation, and there is a minerally undercurrent that adds depth and class. The wine is incredibly focused and intense. Limited quantities made. Excellent cellaring potential. Highly recommended.” 96 pts
Vintage 2016 - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2018
(14/09/2017 at 2:14 PM)
“Captivating and powerful from the word go starting with its lime and grapefruit flavours, wet rocks before it moves onto a mineral sensation with chalky acidity. Everything balanced with laser-precision accuracy and a joy to behold.”
Vintage 2016 - Mike Bennie, Gourmet Traveller Wine
(05/01/2018 at 4:28 PM)
"2016 Frankland Estate Poison Hill Riesling, like the Isolation Ridge, shows some extra width and juiciness, but not without delivering the bustling, flint and talc-like mineral characters that are typically found in the wine. It's heady in frangipani floral notes, green apple and exotic citrus character. The palate is set to green melon and white flesh stone-fruit flavours, but they are leaner rather than ripe. It finishes with a pleasing, squeaky-textured pucker."
Vintage 2016 - Ray Jordan, WA Sunday Times
(05/01/2018 at 4:29 PM)
"Has the distinctive characters of this vineyard in Frankland River from the first sniff to the finishing crisp acid. Lemon and powdery bath salts on the nose. The palate is distinctly lemon with a fine chalky feel. Has a juicy acidity through to a long finish. Best drinking now to 2025." 94 pts
Vintage 2016 - Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate
(25/01/2018 at 4:34 PM)
"Refined notes of crushed stone and lime zest mark the nose of the 2016 Riesling Poison Hill. From a vineyard planted in 1988, this is a crisp, austere Riesling. It's light in body (11.3% alcohol), with a lean, wiry intensity to it that bodes well for extended aging. Lack patience? Drink it now with the season's best oysters." 92 pts
Vintage 2017 - Huon Hooke, The Real Review May 2018
(21/06/2018 at 11:13 AM)
"Light to mid-yellow colour, with a lemon pith, crushed lime leaf aroma. The wine is very intense and quite rich on the palate, with little grip and a faint broadness. It's a good foil for the Isolation Ridge wine. The balance is near enough to dry. Very good potential." 95 pts
Vintage 2017 - Ray Jordan, The West Australian
(21/06/2018 at 11:23 AM)
"One of the most distinctive rieslings, which gets its character from this individual vineyard. Strong aromas of lemon-scented sorbet. The palate has a crunchy wet slatey feel, with a linear extension of lime and spices. This one doesn't get any barrel fermentation, which tends to heighten those primary lemon-zest influences." 92 pts
Vintage 2017 - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2019
(03/08/2018 at 12:12 PM)
"Imbued with distinctive minerally personality of this estate's Rieslings, and chock-full of classic varietal expression. The aromas and flavours have an overarching citrus theme; grapefruit, lime juice, the flowers of a Meyer lemon, the zest of a ripe mandarin. Tight and textured, the tingly acidity holds the line along the palate and drives through the finish." 96 pts
Vintage 2017 - jamessuckling.com
(16/08/2018 at 10:00 AM)
"Terrific fragrant allure such as stony, flinty, spicy and rocky aromas here. This is exotic and stunning. The palate has elegance and finesse delivered with power. Long flavors of citrus, white nectarines and some green mangoes. A superb wine. Drink or hold." 96 pts
2017 Vintage - Max Allen, Australian Financial Review
(21/08/2018 at 5:13 PM)
"Made with grapes sourced from another 30-year-old vineyard, located 15km north of Isolation Ridge, planted in soil rich in white clay and weathered granite. Also wonderfully expressive and perfumed, it has more weight, richness and an almost grippy minerality on the tongue."
Vintage 2018-James Suckling -Biggest Wine Tasting Ever
(02/07/2019 at 5:57 PM)
"Wonderful clarity to this riesling with white peaches, minerals and hints of spearmint. Full-bodied, dry and fruity. Beautiful length. Stones and tangy fruit at the finish. Organic wine. Drink now." Screw cap. 94pt
Vintage 2018-James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion
(08/08/2019 at 3:40 PM)
Hand-picked grapes were whole-bunch pressed immediately on arrival at the winery, cold-fermented, 8 weeks minimal intervention. Has class stamped all over it, but drink Isolation Ridge while this gets a few more (5+) years under its belt.95GOLD
Vintage 2018 - Huon Hooke
(22/04/2020 at 4:27 PM)
Very fragrant lavender-like aroma, delightfully fresh and charming and happily very different from the Isolation Ridge wine. It's tight and crisp, limy and dry, bordering on austere but not crossing the line. It would be best with food, such as buttery fish.