The Courtesan Riesling, Clare Valley 2017

The Courtesan is the epitome of good breeding. Wonderful posture, a delicacy of frame and a fragrance to haunt the most sated of olfactory functions. Behind closed doors though, the Courtesan shocks with its racy charms, flirting outrageously with “come-drink-me” eyes. Don’t be fooled, The Courtesan means business

Vintage Conditions

The 2017 growing season was defined by the very wet winter with some flooding in the Clare Valley in late September. This provided the region with plenty of sub-soil moisture which when on to produce good yields of excellent quality fruit.

Vintage started some 3 weeks later than in 2016, more like the traditional harvest dates of old! Riesling flavour looks excellent with riper fruit that in 2016 with more palate weight and finesse.

Winemaking

Vinification, as one might expect with good fruit, is very simple. The grapes are picked in the cool of the morning and rapidly transported to the winery where they are lightly crushed and sent to press. For the Courtesan, we retain only the purest, free-run juice. The wine is fermented at a cool temperature to retain fruit profile and the finished wine is aged on its lees for 2-3 months before bottling.

Tasting

Capturing all the mouthwatering lime and elderflower character one expects from great Riesling, the Courtesan has a voluptuous palate hinting at grapefruit, ripe melon and quince. 

Alcohol: 12%
Total Acidity: 7.04g/l
pH: 2.85
Residual Sugar: ,2.5g/l
SO2: 107mg/l
Fining:
Vegan: Yes
Vegetarian: Yes