2023 Heroes 'Das Helden' Riesling. Otway Hinterlands-Geelong-VIC.
James Thomas has earned his stripes working with the Bannockburn Vineyard team and managing the wines at Clyde Park for a period. But his true style seeking purity and expression of site was what took him searching for his own property. And he found it in the Otways. Whilst not 'technically' his property, he has a long lease and manages the vineyard as 100% his own. James is transparent in his ethos and admits the vineyard cannot yet be classified as organic as he took it on in the middle of last season. It's well on his way with his input though. Managing the vines organically and hands off winemaking approach leads to some exceptional wines.
I was particularly taken with this Riesling that show suchs purity, such richness of fruit and is so well in balance with its sugars. You won't believe it when you drink it but the residual sugars sit above 60 grams per litre. I keep coming back to the word 'pure'. It really is.
