Grosset in the Clare Valley has unveiled its 2024 rieslings, along with a fiano. The new-release wines include the 2024 vintages of the Polish Hill Riesling, Springvale Riesling, Alea Riesling, the Apiana Fiano, and a magnum of the Polish Hill.
Grosset is the namesake label of Jeffrey Grosset, who James Halliday describes as the man who "wears the unchallenged mantle of Australia’s foremost riesling maker."
When it comes to the Polish Hill Riesling, it's undoubtably the benchmark for Clare Valley riesling. Mike Bennie says it's a wine that needs no introduction "...safe to say, this is one of the most delicious young releases of this wine... it's a stellar wine, full of inimitable character and a finesse that Grosset does so well."
Of the last six vintages of the Polish Hill submitted to the Companion, the flagship wine has not scored lower than 95 points, and the 2024 is no exception, with Mike awarding it an exceptional 97 points.
Mike says the Springvale is "attractive and approachable", while the Alea has "ultra-high drinkability", and the Apiana Fiano is the "most prestigious fiano in the country!"
The Polish Hill and Springvale Rieslings are named after their vineyards. The Alea is produced from the Grosset Rockwood Vineyard, as is the Apiana fiano. All wines are produced from biodynamically certified grapes.
Mike Bennie's Grosset tasting notes
2024 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling, Clare Valley
This needs no introduction; safe to say, this is one of the most delicious young releases of this wine. Immediate appeal in abundant jasmine floral lift, green apple fruitiness, soft lime elements, ginger cake, blackcurrant touches and a wellspring of saline minerality. There's a juiciness, though strict ribbons of pulverised pumice and granitic mineral character find chew and pucker here, too. In all that, the intensity is somewhat dialled down while drinkability is through the roof. No matter, the character shifts each year in degree; it's a stellar wine, full of inimitable character and a finesse that Grosset does so well. – Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion, 97 pointsRRP $80 | Drink to 2040
2024 Grosset Springvale Riesling, Clare Valley
An attractive and approachable, understated expression emerges from this '24 release of Springvale. Lemon-lime, some orange peel, faint minty notes, green apple juice, with some lemon verbena and tutti-frutti floral notes expressed through scents and flavours alike. Texture is somewhat waxy, the finish cool and firm, bright and zesty. Very enjoyable right now, a little lighter on in character, with lots of pleasing, cool and bright charisma. – Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 pointsRRP $55 | Drink to 2035
2024 Grosset Alea Riesling, Clare Valley
Alea holds some additional sweetness as its canon. There's an appealing and ultra-high drinkability here. Charm in spades. Floral scents of frangipani and lemon blossom with candied ginger, lime juice, just-ripe pineapple and tonic water. Similar to taste with a slipperiness to texture that feels well metered by the building crispness of the finish. More tonic and pleasing, quinine-like bitterness in juicy lime, red apple, pineapple and gingery flavours, too. Even, balanced, cool fringes and an appealing, transparent glassiness overall. – Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 pointsRRP $48 | Drink to 2033
2024 Grosset Apiana Fiano, Clare Valley
The most prestigious fiano in the country! Sound the alarms! Good energy here, a crunch of nashi pear, light almond notes, quirky but appealing kombu seaweed characters and saline minerality. It slips along the palate with a little waxiness and finishes with a brittle, pleasingly fresh trill of lemon-gingery flavours and a lick more brine. Gently savoury, though quite shy and delicate at the same time. Pretty wine. – Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion, 93 pointsRRP $55 | Drink to 2030
For more information visit grosset.com.au.
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Image credit: Grosset and Wine Australia.
