Complex and fine from the off, with pretty, lifted florals, lime, mandarin sorbet, white nectarine, talc and flint. The medium-bodied palate has delicacy and gentle succulence, with a slight apricot-jam tightness through the back palate. A sensation of crystalline juice running over pebbles. Soft, pure, and almost ethereal, this has excellent length. Riesling possesses the hallmark traits of great dry Riesling. With its restrained power and coiled tension, the wine will age for at least 15 years.
In the winery small ferments with an increasing focus on spontaneous fermentation and barrel ferment, (with many not exceeding 1,000Ltrs).
As is now tradition, we left the wine on lees for nine months as we enjoy the texture and personality this imparts. It highlights the subtle yet distinct flinty ironstone notes, which are wrapped up in the mouthfeel of the wine. Some 8% of this wine was matured in barrel, with the same aim in mind. We also pick the grapes slightly riper than we used to 10 or so years ago. This allows us to achieve the “resolved” acid profile where it melts into the wine. These numerous small ferments allow complexity in the resulting wine through the diversity of yeasts, ferments and combinations of stainless-steel fermented parcels and barrel fermented parcels.

Region: Frankland River, WA
Blend: Riesling (100%)
ABV: 12.50%
Closure: 750ml
Bottle Size:
Production:

98 points - "Already the nose has an enormous depth of white peach fruit, honeysuckle and citrus blossom aromas, new nuances emerge with each swirl of the glass. Super-concentrated, medium-bodied palate with a totally compelling interplay of creaminess from long lees contact with juicy stone fruit and pink grapefruit character, plus mineral acidity. The very long, salty finish pulls you back for more of this masterpiece. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap." - Ned Goodwin MW (JamesSuckling.com)

95 Points - "Riesling is the Frankland Estate signature grape, and gee they do a good job of it. Very different to most Australian Riesling too. Pie apple, lime, plenty of spice, mint and aniseed. It’s chalky, rich in flavour, all lime and apple, with a nutty and chalk dust texture, lots of oomph, almost into Chardonnay weight, with a slight petrol perfume, and excellent length. Crushed fennel seed, guava and apple on the finish. Powerful and very ‘mineral’. Lime zest and Parmesen rind too. Lots of grip. Loads of personality. Terrific." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

96 Points - "The easy bit is to talk about the complexity, precision, the inherent power and confidence that resides in the 2022 Isolation Ridge Riesling. The hard bit is to explain why. The 2022 vintage was cool-ish and winemaker, Hunter Smith, talks of “extended hang time” on the vine for the fruit. The Smith family has also been working on building in texture and added presence in recent years in the form of picking riper fruit, nine months on lees and around eight per cent of wine now sees time in oak. Every little one per center comes together in the glass. Striking citrus notes, green apple, preserved lemon, leaf aromas mix with lifted honeysuckle florals. At first, it appears fine-boned, but then it builds in presence, depth, texture and tension. The drinker becomes mere putty under its spell. You can’t talk about the wine without reference to the acidity which both glides and provides real tension – and interest – as it brings together all the elements, while standing out as a true, attractive feature. In the immediate future it will bring tangy acid drive; in the long-term that acidity will contribute considerable age worthiness." - Jeni Port (Wine Pilot)

95 Points - "Light yellow-straw colour with a slaty and lime/lemon aroma, very fresh, bright and intense, leading into a similarly intense and refined but focused palate, where the slaty mineral notes bounce off the subtle sweetness and fruit intensity in an almost Germanic way. Glorious stuff. A wine that drinks well now and will age superbly" - Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

96 Points - "Seriously, if Frankland Estate can’t make outstanding Riesling, well, what’s the point of getting out of bed? A more subtle offering in 2022 retains the DNA thumbprint of the vineyard. Lemon blossom, honeysuckle, lime zest and finger lime acidity, yet softish and almost plush. The palate builds, adding a slip of sexy phenolics, the merest smidge of sweetness and everything in harmony to extend out and excite to the very end. As usual, an elegant, distinct riesling." - Jane Faulkner (Halliday Wine Companion)