Tuesner 2023 Empress Riesling

The Barossa Valley is home to the oldest and some of the finest Shiraz vineyards in
the world. However, someone ‘up there’ must be really looking out for us Barossa
winemakers, because right next door we have the Eden Valley - the birthplace of
many of Australia’s supreme dry Rieslings. If Shiraz is the big, rich and bold ‘King’ of
the Barossa Valley, then surely Riesling must be the strong, sensual and desirable
‘Empress’ of the Eden Valley.

We’re lucky enough to work with a fantastic and dedicated vigneron whose vineyard
is located merely a stone’s throw from the Eden Valley township itself. With a South
Easterly aspect, the vineyard is perched on swale of free draining and ancient
granitic sand at an elevation of 420m. The unique combination of site, soil and old
vines leads to very low yields of intensely flavoured fruit. The cooler conditions
(especially at night) associated with the higher altitudes lead to later ripening and
greater retention of natural acidity.

Harvested in the cool of the morning, we handle our Riesling in the winery a little
different to most, with the free-run juice pressed off oxidatively and fermented with
some solids at cool temperatures in the pursuit of added flavour and subtle texture.
The inherent fruit intensity and fine natural acidity drives great fruit purity, and once
your palate negotiates the bright citrus flavours, the wine glides across the midpalate
with an energetic gait showing hints of mineral ‘wet slate’, lemon blossom,
white flowers and talc.

The 2023 Vintage saw cooler conditions prevail and the steady ripening period
resulted in the latest harvest date of our Riesling this decade. The small crop
maintained its pristine condition and was harvested with an abundance of flavour
and a stunning citrus acid line. The fine talc like quality, which we find synonymous
with this vineyard, presents in harmony with the sheer fruit intensity and we thank
our ‘mate up on the hill’ for his efforts. It’s a great drink…and I have to say thanks to
my sister Lee for bringing the essence of The Empress…strong, sensual,
desirable…to life on the front label.”