The dry dam Riesling 2023  McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Riesling (100%)  The Name  In 1992 our neighbours built a dam that  remained empty, as it was a dry winter. The  next year it rained but the dam was jinxed  and didn’t hold water. A dry dam is bad news  for our neighbouring farmers, but promises  good results for our old, dry-grown, low yielding vines.  The Vintage  The cool, wet 2022 winter filled the subsoil,  while spring’s heavy rainfall impacted yields.  Shaded basal buds and reduced fruitfulness  from the previous season resulted in small  yields. Mild, dry summer caused late  veraison. Despite a week of intense heat  in February, most vines survived. Riesling  started three weeks late, and McLaren  Vale Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc  ripened with low yields due to the heat wave.  Autumn was mild, and red grape harvest  followed McLaren Vale Chardonnay, with  variable, mostly low yields. Fiano, Marsanne,  Roussanne, and Viognier ripened alongside  the reds. Only 100 tonnes of red varieties  remained by Easter, with low yields in  Adelaide Hills Chardonnay and Pinot. Dry  white Chardonnay vineyards were used for  sparkling wine, promising a great year.  Harvest dates  Residual sugar  16 Feb - 15 Mar  14 g/l  The Winemaking  Small batches of grapes are gently  crushed, chilled, and then basket pressed.  The fermentation was long and cool, and  was stopped before reaching total dryness  to ensure that residual sugar remains to  balance the high mineral acidity.  The Characteristics  A very consistent and elegant Riesling.  Greeny straw and slightly yellow colour.  Fresh and mineral aromas of green pear,  lemon balm and fresh lime. The palate  comes with a citrusy core of lemon curd  and lime with a complementing outer layer  of tropical flavours like pineapple, green  apple, pear and kiwifruit. Extraordinary  acidity, lifted but not sharp and in perfect  harmony with the slightly sweet mouthfeel.  Absolutely lovely now but can also age and