The Grosset ‘Polish Hill’ Riesling is one of the finest in the New World. This wine has a super-cult status and given the tiny production, is extremely difficult to find…

“The finest Riesling, I have ever tasted from Australia.” – Robert Parker Jnr.

For many years it has been a benchmark wine for the Clare Valley in South Australia. A true yardstick from which to measure the region’s Riesling style. It is characterised by pristine purity, intensity of flavour, and phenomenal longevity. It’s a wine that could only come from this famous site and the hands of Jeffrey Grosset, unquestionably one of Australia’s greatest winemakers.

Do not delay, if you are serious about filling your wine cellar with true icons, this is a Riesling to snap up fast before our meagre Dhall & Nash allocation runs dry!

The Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine places the Grosset Polish Hill Riesling at the highest level of “Exceptional”.

Jeffrey Grosset and his wines never cease to amaze – vintage after vintage he is the best of the best. Grosset’s wines are pure and driven, steely and focussed, poised and powerful. And 2021 will not disappoint!

2021 Grosset Wines ‘Polish Hill’ Riesling:

“A desperately pristine Polish Hill of crystalline purity and unnerving endurance. All the textbook hallmarks of Polish hill are delivered with heightened precision and brilliant concentration. It is set to go down with the greats under this prized label.” – 97/100 points, Tyson Stelzer

“Very light-yellow colour with a trace of green in the tint. The aroma is ethereal and perfumed, summoning lime leaf and lemon zest, the palate adding a touch of baked lemon pudding, while the finish is long and full and underlined by a trace of grip which adds structure. A powerful young Riesling, and very stylish.” – 96/100 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review

“The standard bearer. Hyper floral scents, whiffs of fresh laundry, preserved lemon, brambles, green apple. Crackles with acidity and crisp citrus and green apple characters, tightly wound yet yields with some juicy freshness, a lick of powdery texture dragging things very long to a powdery, limey, breath-taking finish. Power, grace, blistering acidity. A scintillating release. Drink 2021 – 2050″ – 95/100 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front

“A spectacular vintage with layer upon layer of powerful lime juice aromatics against a backdrop of enticing florals. The palate is intense with lime pith flavours, weight, power, and a crisp, ultra-dry finish that lingers. It has the structure and intensity of flavour to become one of the great vintages. Cellar? ‘As long as you like’ says Jeff – up to 25 years, or drink now.” – Grosset Wines website

Jancis Robinson describes Jeffrey Grosset as “Australia’s acknowledged King of Riesling”.

Riesling has been responsible for life-changing epiphanies for so many in the wine world. So it was for Jeffrey Grosset, when as a mere teenager of 15 his father let him taste a classic Leo Buring Riesling. Boom! He was smitten. Leaving school at 16 he went on to the prestigious Roseworthy College to complete degrees in Agriculture and Oenology by 1975. Followed by numerous big name winery roles (at Seppelt’s, Lindemann’s and a stint in Germany) it proved to be a sound foundation upon which to build his own winery in 1981 in an old former dairy factory in Auburn, in the Clare Valley in South Australia.

Right from the outset, Grosset has set a blistering pace for all winemakers in the Clare Valley. He has been recognised internationally as one of the finest winemakers in Australia. Receiving a great deal of local and international individual recognition for his wine making, including being the first recipient of “Australian Winemaker of the Year” from Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine and the “International Riesling Winemaker of the Year” at the Riesling Summit II, both in 1998. He was noted in 2005 to be one of the world’s “50 Most Influential Winemakers” by Wine & Spirits and named as one of the “Top 10 White Winemakers” in the world by Decanter in 2006.

His attention to detail, both in his organically and biodynamically farmed vineyards and his winery, has given rise to a portfolio of elegantly artisanal and articulate wines that are the envy of many. Focus, intensity, and immaculate balance are the hallmarks of every Grosset wine.

“The soils are quite fragile and need special care and attentive viticulture.” – Owner/winemaker Jeffrey Grosset

The Grosset estate comprises four Clare Valley vineyards all in higher country, centred around Mount Horrocks, the highest point in the region. All sites were chosen and planted by Grosset 40 years ago, all are relatively isolated and cooler due to the altitude. Each vineyard is geologically diverse. The stable star, the Grosset Polish Hill Riesling is produced exclusively from the eight-hectare estate-owned Single Vineyard site which is fully organic certified.

The gently sloping terrain is comprised of silt and shallow shales over a thin crust of clay and gravel. This overlays a bed of blue slate, estimated to be around 500-million-years old.

This ‘hard rock’ site was originally part of a larger farm but was considered to be of limited agricultural value and so was sold off. The vines here struggle to draw nutrients from the soil, so the bunches and berries are small, and the fruit flavours lean and austere. Indeed, this vineyard exemplifies how old-rock profiles can contribute to the X factor of a wine’s character. Accompanied by Jeffrey’s fastidious focus on detail it has ensured a long winning streak for Grosset wines.

However, there is a major challenge to this site, that is the variability in vigour from one vine to the next. This demands more intense labour input and hand-tending skill – varied to suit each vine – to achieve balanced vine growth and even fruit ripening. Almost like helicopter parenting for vines ☺

All are relatively close-planted, with just three clones of Riesling (two German and one rare local clone) producing an average of just two bottles of wine per vine compared to a “typical” vine which produce approximately 6 bottles of wine! Indeed, an ongoing labour of love.
Ultimately Grosset has opted for better soil and vine management to ensure greater consistency of fruit quality, rather than finding vintages subjected to wild mood swings or uncontrollable dips and peaks. He says, “With knowledge and experience comes greater control”.