KOONUNGA HILL AUTUMN RIESLING

VINTAGES

1971 and 2008.

VARIETY

Riesling.

ORIGIN

Multi-regional blend, South Australia. Predominantly Eden Valley and Adelaide H lls.

FERMENTATION

Stainless steel tanks.

MATURATION

Bottled early to retain delicacy and freshness.

COMMENTS

A retro-wine that pays homage to the 1971 and 1972 Penfolds Autumn Rieslings. Sealed with screwcap.

The release of 1971 Penfolds Autumn Riesling followed a period of important technical advances, especially the introduction of pressure fermenters, cool fermentation techniques and screwcap technology.

The wine was a blend of experimental wines earmarked by Max Schubert for a possible white wine companion to the now-successful Penfolds Grange Hermitage. Although the release didn t go ahead, Penfolds possesses some of the very best riesling vineyards in South Australia, especially the Eden Valley. Both the 1971 and 1972 Penfolds Autumn Rieslings were sealed with screwcap to preserve freshness and longevity, but wine drinkers were hesitant to embrace this advanced, yet unfam liar, alternative seal. It would take another 30 years before the general market accepted this type of closure in Australia.

When the Autumn Riesling was revived as a part of the Koonunga Hill series, the winemaking team developed a fruit pure and minerally wine stylistically true to its origins.

Typically, the Penfolds Autumn Riesling is pale green/gold in colour with fragrant lemon, lime and verbena aromas, intense lemon curd, grapefruit and lime flavours, attractive mid-palate richness and persistent crisp mouthwatering acidity. The wines are generally best to drink when exuberant and youthful within two or three years of each vintage release. But the best vintages can hold or further develop when stored in optimum conditions.

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