Penfolds built its name on reds, but the white that comes out of the same South Australian fruit is worth a look. This is Riesling picked a little later than the bone-dry style, so it lands off-dry, with the acidity still sharp enough to hold it together.
- Riesling, the grape that keeps the most acidity.
- South Eastern Australia, a broad multi-region appellation.
- 2022 vintage, 12% alcohol, light in body.
- Off-dry, with low tannin and high acid.
How it tastes
Lime and green apple come first, then a floral note that reads as apple blossom, and a slate-like mineral edge underneath. The sugar sits low and quiet, rounding the citrus rather than sweetening it. It finishes clean, with the acid doing the work.
Where it comes from
South Eastern Australia is a catch-all appellation covering vineyards across several states, which gives a winemaker room to blend for consistency from year to year. Riesling is grown widely here, though the grape's Australian reputation rests mostly on the dry, steely examples from Clare and Eden Valley further inland.
Good to know
Riesling is one of the few white grapes that can carry residual sugar and high acidity at the same time without tasting heavy. That balance is why bottles from this grape tend to hold up longer than most whites of the same weight.
