Auburn Wines

2011 Auburn Alexandra Riesling

Sourced from 11yo vines in the subregion of Alexandra. Clean fruit, no botrytis, gently whole-bunch pressed. Lightly settled in tank, racked off solids and fermented cool. Bottled August 2011. Alcohol 9.5%, pH 3.04, TA 6.5g/L, RS 15g/L. Production 729 bottles.

Stripped of leaf from bitterly cold southerlies in early April, this was our last vineyard to harvest as we waited a full month longer to eek out all ripeness. Classic Central citrus with hints of spring blossoms, lime oil and bath salts. Lighter bodied, dainty and playful in the mouth, with a fresh, crisp finish. Fashioned like a Feinherb, this elegant Riesling is equally at home quenching one’s thirst or partnered with fresh seafood.

2011 Auburn Bannockburn Riesling

Sourced from 13yo vines in the subregion of Bannockburn. Clean fruit, no botrytis, gently whole-bunch pressed. Lightly settled in tank, racked off solids and fermented cool. Bottled August 2011. Alcohol 10.5%, pH 2.91, TA 8.0g/L, RS 47g/L. Production 821 bottles.

A bright, shiny debut from this high altitude vineyard on the Cairnmuir Terraces. Lime, orange, pith and mineral – already showing considerable aromatic complexity and harmony. Juicy, textural and zingy all at once, with concentrated citrus and a hint of spice. A medium-style Riesling that hides coyly behind a curtain of ripe, natural acidity.

2011 Auburn Bendigo Riesling

Sourced from 6yo vines in the subregion of Bendigo. Clean fruit, no botrytis, gently whole-bunch pressed. Lightly settled in tank, racked off solids and fermented cool. Bottled August 2011. Alcohol 10.0%, pH 2.88, TA 8.3g/L, RS 64g/L. Production 785 bottles.

Fresh and primal, boasting apple, citrus and stonefruit buoyed by a floral perfume. Pure, crisp and clean, a tad exotic, a little silky and taut. A wine that chases the elusive tension of Riesling, with a rousing chord of acidity, sweetness, texture and concentration ringing of Spätlese.

2011 Auburn Lowburn Riesling

Sourced from 18yo vines in the subregion of Lowburn. Combination of clean and botrytis fruit, gently whole-bunch pressed. Lightly settled in tank, racked off solids and fermented cool. Bottled August 2011. Alcohol 11.5%, pH 3.00, TA 8.9g/L, RS 48g/L. Production 760 bottles.

The decision was made to include the noble botrytis when harvesting Lowburn, which constituted about a quarter of the fruit and contributes to its richer hallmark. Orange and yellow fruit, a splash of lime, pear and quince. Exotically spiced with ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. A later harvest, with the botrytis presence makes this the richest, most exotic of our sub-regional portfolio; a superb match for Asian cuisine.

2011 Auburn TBA Riesling

Sourced from old vines in the subregion of Lowburn. 100% dried, shrivelled botrytis berries picked individually by hand over nine passes in seven weeks. Pressed over two days, settled, racked off solids and fermented long and cool. Scheduled to be bottled November 2011 with figures only estimates: Alcohol 6.0%, pH 3.1, TA 9.5, RS 300g/L. Production 60 half-bottles.

This was a labour of love. If our selfish, evil alter-ego had its way, this wee collection would be foraged away for private consumption. But share we must. TBA alludes to the acronym for German Trockenbeerenauslese, which translates to dried, berry selection. Just 25L of viscous, meade-like juice was procured and then coaxed into ferment, which occurs very, very slowly. The nose carries a melange of dried and tropical fruit, the texture mellifluous, the finish and length far-reaching. It’s a rare, special wine, to treat yourself on a befitting occasion; a thimbleful goes a long way.

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