d'Arenberg The Originals Dry Dam Riesling 2023 x 12

d'Arenberg The Originals Dry Dam Riesling 2023 x 12The dry dam Riesling 2023 McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Riesling (100%) The Name In 1992 our neighbours built a dam that remained empty, as it was a dry winter. The next year it rained but the dam was jinxed and didnt hold water. A dry dam is bad news for our neighbouring farmers, but promises good results for our old, dry grown, low yielding vines. The Vintage The cool, wet 2022 winter filled the subsoil, while springs heavy rainfall impacted yields.

 The dry dam Riesling 2023
 McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Riesling (100%)
 The Name
 In 1992 our neighbours built a dam that 
remained empty, as it was a dry winter. The 
next year it rained but the dam was jinxed 
and didn’t hold water. A dry dam is bad news 
for our neighbouring farmers, but promises 
good results for our old, dry-grown, low
yielding vines.
 The Vintage
 The cool, wet 2022 winter filled the subsoil,
 while spring’s heavy rainfall impacted yields.
 Shaded basal buds and reduced fruitfulness
 from the previous season resulted in small
 yields. Mild, dry summer caused late 
veraison. Despite a week of intense heat
 in February, most vines survived. Riesling
 started three weeks late, and McLaren 
Vale Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc 
ripened with low yields due to the heat wave. 
Autumn was mild, and red grape harvest 
followed McLaren Vale Chardonnay, with 
variable, mostly low yields. Fiano, Marsanne, 
Roussanne, and Viognier ripened alongside 
the reds. Only 100 tonnes of red varieties 
remained by Easter, with low yields in 
Adelaide Hills Chardonnay and Pinot. Dry
 white Chardonnay vineyards were used for
 sparkling wine, promising a great year.
 Harvest dates
 Residual sugar
 16 Feb - 15 Mar
 14 g/l
 The Winemaking
 Small batches of grapes are gently
 crushed, chilled, and then basket pressed.
 The fermentation was long and cool, and
 was stopped before reaching total dryness
 to ensure that residual sugar remains to
 balance the high mineral acidity.
 The Characteristics
 A very consistent and elegant Riesling. 
Greeny straw and slightly yellow colour. 
Fresh and mineral aromas of green pear, 
lemon balm and fresh lime. The palate 
comes with a citrusy core of lemon curd 
and lime with a complementing outer layer 
of tropical flavours like pineapple, green 
apple, pear and kiwifruit. Extraordinary 
acidity, lifted but not sharp and in perfect 
harmony with the slightly sweet mouthfeel. 
Absolutely lovely now but can also age and