Pewsey Vale The Contours 10 Years Museum Release 2012

Pewsey Vale The Contours 10 Years Museum Release 2012

 

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Pewsey Vale
The Contours 10 Years Museum Release 2012
  • Vintage : 2012
  • Country : Australia
  • Region : Eden Valley
  • Subregion :
  • Type : White
  • Style : Medium Bodied Aromatic Dry
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 12,5°
  • Grappes : 100% Riesling

The Pewsey Vale The Contours 10 Years Museum Release Riesling 2012 showcases the remarkable aging potential of Eden Valley Riesling. After a decade in the bottle, this wine offers a perfect balance of citrus freshness, complex secondary flavors, and mineral depth, making it an extraordinary expression of bottle-aged Riesling.

Experts Score Vintage
RP Robert Parker 97+ 2012
JH James Halliday 95 2012
JS James Suckling 95 2012
W&S Wines & Spirits 93 2012
VN Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 93 2012
WE Wine Enthusiast 92 2012
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

The Eden Valley, located in South Australia's Barossa region, is renowned for its cool-climate Rieslings. At an elevation of approximately 1,500 feet (457 meters), the high altitude of Pewsey Vale Vineyard provides ideal conditions for producing exceptional Rieslings, characterized by vibrant acidity and concentrated flavors. The grey sandy loam soils contribute to the distinctive minerality of the wines, while the vineyard's cool slopes encourage slow ripening, allowing the grapes to develop intense flavor complexity.

The vines used for The Contours Riesling are some of the oldest in the vineyard, carefully nurtured on the coolest slope of this rugged single-vineyard site. This terroir, combined with careful vine growing and astute winemaking, creates a wine that showcases both the purity of the fruit and the unique characteristics of the vineyard.

Winemaking

The 2012 vintage was challenging, with rainfall in Eden Valley during the growing season at less than 40% of the average, and slightly higher-than-normal temperatures. These factors led to an early harvest, about a month ahead of schedule, but the fruit quality was excellent, resulting in a wine with concentrated lime and citrus flavors and beautiful natural acidity.

The juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks, with a pre-fermentation period of 1 to 4 days on solids before the wild yeasts initiated fermentation. The wine did not undergo malolactic fermentation, preserving its crisp acidity. After fermentation, it was aged in the bottle for 10 years, allowing the wine to develop the secondary characteristics that make it so unique. With an alcohol content of 12.5%, residual sugar of 2 g/L, and acidity of 6.21 g/L, this Riesling strikes the perfect balance between freshness and richness.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Pale straw with green hues, retaining remarkable freshness after 10 years of aging.
  • Aroma: Intense aromas of lime and lemon, with a layer of fresh toast that complements the citrus. There are subtle hints of sage oil and a touch of developing marmalade.
  • Palate: The palate is dominated by vibrant lime juice and citrus flavors, with underlying notes of lemongrass, marmalade, and a distinctive crushed stone minerality. Despite its age, the wine remains fresh and lively, with a rich, long finish and beautifully integrated acidity.

Did You Know?

The Pewsey Vale The Contours is sealed under a screw cap, which preserves the wine's freshness and protects it from the variability often associated with cork. This allows the wine to undergo what is called "pure bottle aging," where the citrus freshness is maintained alongside the development of complex secondary flavors like toast, honey, and marmalade, without the wine becoming oxidized or dried out.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Seared scallops with butter sauce: The wine's bright citrus notes and mineral edge perfectly complement the richness of scallops and butter.
  • Smoky cauliflower soup: The minerality and aged complexity of the Riesling balance the creamy texture and smoky flavors of the soup.

History of Pewsey Vale Estate

Pewsey Vale Vineyard has a long and storied history, dating back to its establishment in 1847. It was founded by Joseph Gilbert, who was a pioneer in Australian viticulture. Gilbert recognized the potential of Eden Valley’s cool climate for grape growing and planted the first Riesling vines in the region, making Pewsey Vale the first vineyard to cultivate this variety in Eden Valley.

Over the years, Pewsey Vale has cemented its reputation as a benchmark for Australian Riesling. In the mid-20th century, under the guidance of the Hill-Smith family, the vineyard underwent significant restoration, which revived its historic plantings and reinforced its focus on Riesling. Today, under the leadership of winemaker Louisa Rose, Pewsey Vale continues to craft Rieslings that balance tradition with modern winemaking techniques, while staying true to the vineyard’s origins.

Region and Vineyards

Located in Eden Valley, a sub-region of the Barossa, Pewsey Vale Vineyard benefits from high-altitude, cool-climate conditions that are ideal for producing Riesling. The vineyard is set at 500 meters above sea level, where the combination of cool nights and warm days allows for slow ripening, resulting in grapes with intense flavor and bright acidity.

The soils in the vineyard are primarily shallow sandy loams with quartz and schist gravels, providing excellent drainage and promoting the development of deep-rooted vines. These soil characteristics, coupled with north and north-east facing slopes, ensure optimal sun exposure and contribute to the vineyard’s signature mineral-driven wines.

Pewsey Vale’s commitment to sustainable viticulture is evident in its minimal intervention approach, which allows the vineyard’s natural biodiversity to flourish. This respect for the environment ensures that each vintage captures the essence of the terroir, resulting in wines of purity and finesse.

Wine Range

Pewsey Vale is singularly focused on producing Riesling. The vineyard offers a range of Riesling expressions, each showcasing the versatility and aging potential of this noble variety. The range includes:

  • Pewsey Vale Vineyard Riesling: The flagship wine, representing the purest expression of the vineyard with vibrant citrus flavors and a crisp, mineral finish.
  • Pewsey Vale 1961 Block Riesling: A wine made from the estate's oldest vines, offering depth, complexity, and aging potential.
  • Pewsey Vale Museum Reserve: A carefully aged Riesling that demonstrates the grape’s capacity to evolve over time, developing complex secondary notes while maintaining its vibrant acidity.

Did You Know?

Pewsey Vale was the first vineyard to plant Riesling in Eden Valley, making it a trailblazer for this varietal in Australia. This pioneering spirit has led to Pewsey Vale becoming a reference point for high-quality Riesling, both domestically and internationally.

Robert Parker (RP) : 97+ Points (2012)
At a decade old, this 2012 The Contours Riesling is superb. Just superb. It sings with creamed honey, honeysuckle, crushed shells, brine, green apple skins and layers of quinine, tobacco leaf and ash. Words are wasted on it. Bottle age has brought this into a magical space. It will easily reach its 20th birthday, and with patience, its 30th too.

James Halliday (JH) : 95 Points (2012)
This contour-planted (1965) block of riesling, high in the Eden Valley has been the source of many a riesling epiphany. Pale to mid straw in the glass, with aromas of Bickford's lime, grapefruit pith, lemon zest. There's a complex array of underlying characters: preserved lemon, kaffir lime, beeswax, dried honey, lemon curd, crushed quartz, sage, soft spice, pressed flowers and almond paste. Toasty, long of finish and still boasting plenty of zesty drive, detail and clarity, it's just wonderful drinking.

James Suckling (JS) : 95 Points (2012)
A beautiful mature Australian dry riesling, which shows the lime-marmalade and toast character we associate with these wines. However, there are also notes of green peppercorns, dill and chamomile. Long finish that’s at once crisp and quite mellow (due to the bottle maturation). Still many years of life ahead of it.

Wines & Spirits (W&S) : 93 Points (2012)
Louisa Rose selects the fruit for Contours from a block planted in 1965 at this historic vineyard, dating to 1847. In an acknowledgment of the bottle age great Eden Valley riesling needs to realize its potential, Rose cellars this for five years before release; after we twisted the screw cap, the wine held its freshness for a week, which is not surprising, given that Pewsey Vale, an early adopter of Stelvin closures, can develop for three decades or more with proper cellaring. This 2012 is youthful, bright and crisp, with the crunch of fresh grapes yielding a flavor of lime essence and stony white peaches. Harmonious and vibrant.

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) (VN) : 93 Points (2012)
Translucent yellow. Orange pith, nectarine, pear and hints of beeswax and kerosene on the pungent nose. Gently chewy and focused in the mouth, offering vibrant, mineral-tinged orchard and citrus fruit flavors and bitter suggestions of quinine and peach pit. Finishes very long and nervy, with a building floral nuance and a resonating pear note.

Wine Enthusiast (WE) : 92 Points (2012)
This is a classic example of an aged Eden Valley Riesling. Pale gold in color, aromas of lemon curd, kerosene, crème brûleé and dried herbs carry the nose. The palate is rich but balanced by mouthwatering acidity and a herbal finish. There's plenty of life left.

Pewsey Vale Dry Riesling 2022
Pewsey Vale Dry Riesling 2022
Pewsey Vale
Dry Riesling 2022
WE
92
DCT
90
JS
96
The Pewsey Vale Dry Riesling is a true expression of Eden Valley terroir, offering fresh, lively flavors of citrus and herbs alongside a structured acidity, ensuring its place as a timeless classic in the Riesling world.
26,50 €
Quantity : moins plus
Pewsey Vale The Contours Riesling 2016
Pewsey Vale The Contours Riesling 2016
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The Contours Riesling 2016
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Pewsey Vale 1961 Block Riesling 2021
Pewsey Vale 1961 Block Riesling 2021
Pewsey Vale
1961 Block Riesling 2021
RP
95
JS
96
Crafted from Pewsey Vale’s oldest vines, the 1961 Block Riesling captures the essence of Eden Valley terroir. Its wild fermentation and lees aging impart a textural complexity that complements its vibrant acidity and striking mineral backbone.
29,90 €
Quantity : moins plus
Wine regions guide
52,00 €
Quantity : Moins     Plus
 
 
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