WHITE WINE

The Isolation Ridge vineyard at Frankland Estate is now farmed using organic viticultural practices resulting in greater depth and concentration to our wines. The vineyard sits on an undulating northern and eastern facing slope on ancient duplex soils of gravel and loam over a clay sub-soil. Fruit for this wine was sourced from Geisenheim clone Riesling vines planted in 1988. This clone is renowned for retaining high levels of acidity throughout the vintage, this providing a natural counterbalance to the residual sweetness in this wine.

Handpicked when ripe in the early morning and whole-bunch pressed for fermentation in 1000 litre French oak ‘foudre’ over 4 weeks. Towards the end of fermentation, when the ideal balance of sugar, fruit weight and acidity had been achieved, the wine was chilled to arrest fermentation. FRANKLAND ESTATE

Riesling is the Frankland Estate signature grape, and gee they do a good job of it. Very different to most Australian Riesling too. Pie apple, lime, plenty of spice, mint and aniseed. It’s chalky, rich in flavour, all lime and apple, with a nutty and chalk dust texture, lots of oomph, almost into Chardonnay weight, with a slight petrol perfume, and excellent length. Crushed fennel seed, guava and apple on the finish. Powerful and very ‘mineral’. Lime zest and Parmesan rind too. Lots of grip. Loads of personality. Terrific. GARY WALSH, The Wine Front

An exquisitely fine and delicate expression of Riesling from one the finest makers of this variety in Australia. Lemon sorbet on the nose with a distinctive minerality displaying almost a flinty character. Not sure if that’s vineyard or the time on lees but expect it’s the vineyard. The acid is finely in tune and helps the palate rock along to a super long finish. The time on lees has helped textural development. (95) RAY JORDAN, Wine Pilot

Frankland Estate make some of the best Riesling in the country, and Alter Weg is always my favourite release.
Its proper oldy worldy winemaking - wild yeast ferments, extended lees aging in large format older barrels and minimal intervention.
And of course, its all hand-selected off the Smith-Callum's fabled organic vineyards.
 
The 2022 is rather delicate rendition. There is amazing tenions and everything is so beautifully balanced. Salinity and fleshiness dovetail with classic riesling flavours of citrus, green apple and a bit of talc.

Every Riesling lover should drink this wine.

CHRIS HARAG, BEAUNE & BEYOND


Apple, lime, fennel, a little parmesan rind. Juicy, saline, cheese rind, nutty and kind of juicy, with some chalk dust grip, more of that nutty stuff, bright acidity, but fleshy too, with a whole lot of weight and lime zest on a finish of excellent length. Excellent. Frankland River via Rheinhessen. Complex and so good to drink. (95) GARY WALSH, winefront.com

Consistently among the finest iterations of riesling in the New World. Picked ripe. Wild fermented and aged in large format wood. Pithy, mid-weighted and textural, eking out a different groove across the palate with each sip, while riding a waft of phenolics as much as a skein of bright, maritime acidity for its push, pull and jittery length. Lemon squash, lime blossom, ginger and crushed granny smith. The overall impression is one of succulence over hardness. Lovely drinking. Drinkable now, but best from 2025. From organically grown grapes. (95) NED GOODWIN, jamessuckling.com

Fine acidity, luscious fruit (in a riesling context), texture and length. What more do you desire? There is more: a little tug of phenolics, the openness on the palate yet slatey and reigned in by lemon-sorbet acidity. Moreish, a touch savoury and an excellent drink. (95) JANE FAULKNER, winecompanion.com

You have to pinch yourself when considering that this is Leeuwin's second level chardie. Fact is, it's very good. The last couple of years have seen slightly more richness and palate intensity restored after dabbling briefly with a finer style. It's minerally with a spicy pear and nectarine character. The palate is layered and rich. This is as good an example of this wine as I have seen. RAY JORDAN

This is the second string to Leeuwin's imperious Art Series cuvee, yet few corners are cut. A bit broader texturally and of more fruity immediacy. Think canned peach, glazed quince, orange verbena, nougat and beautifully placed oak, gently caressing the seams. Mid-weighted and packed with flavor and integrity, this drinks far better than many producer's top wines. Drink or hold briefly. Screw cap. NED GOODWIN

Hello to the taste of Leeuwin Chardonnay at a very fair price. Pear, green mango, a little dusty spice here too and slight struck match. It's flavoursome, but fine-boned, gently chalky, juicy but tight, with a cinnamon and zesty lime finish of very good length. Excellent. Classy... GARY WALSH