This year's winner of the Decanter World Wine Awards International Trophy for the Best in Show Riesling Over £15 went to Eden Springs, High Eden Riesling, Eden Valley 2008, Australia.
Eden Springs, High Eden Riesling, Eden Valley, South Australia 2008 (11.5%)
Exotic, citrussy nose with apple, white truffle and a savoury, saline character. Smoky kerosene edge with sweet lime and earthy notes infused with toasty butter flavours. Not available in the UK
Tasted against • Cave de Turckheim, Riesling, Grand Cru Brand, Alsace, France 2008 • Johann Donabaum, Limitierte Edition Riesling, Wachau, Niederösterreich, Austria 2011 • Künstler, Hochheim Hölle Riesling, Rheingau, Germany 2011 • Flat Rock Cellars, Nadja’s Vineyard Riesling, Twenty
Mile Bench, Ontario, Canada 2009
Winner of the International Riesling Trophy at the first Decanter Asia Wine Awards last year, Eden Springs’ High Eden Riesling 2008 has now taken home a matching Trophy at the DWWA. Facing admirable competition from Canada as well as classic Riesling-producing regions, this win is a testament to the strength of cool-climate Australian Riesling.
This superb Riesling was the first release since Ray Gatt found and fell in love with the Eden Springs vineyard in 2006. (In 2010, this wine changed its name to Gatt, High Eden Riesling.)
Lying on the High Eden ridge of the Barossa Range at up to 510m, Eden Springs is set in wild countryside and uses the natural rainwater collected in its thin rocky soils.
This Trophy winner was made by Jo Irvine, scion of Irvine Estate, who has been succeeded in 2013 by David Norman, a Roseworthy graduate who has been making the red wines for Gatt since 2006. (Gatt Estate itself was established in 1972.)
In addition to a favourable low-fertility soil profile which moderates the vegetative growth of the Riesling grape, the location brings cool overnight temperatures that extend into morning, and afternoons which cool rapidly after mid-afternoon. Both climatic aspects help the Riesling to retain the natural acidity on which it relies for its structure and ageworthiness. Canopy management led by a viticultural team headed by Gil Rogers allows sunlight and ventilation into the vineyard. The result is classic cool-climate Eden Valley Riesling, meeting Ray Gatt’s aim when he restored the vineyard of creating wines of quality and typical varietal and terroir expression.
Anthony Rose
Written by Decanter
