The winter of 2003 saw excellent winter rains and the breaking of a long drought with plenty of water running into the soils and dams. Conditions during the growing season were mild, and big crops flowered and set. There was a period of hot weather in early February which Heggies Vineyard rode out easily. The rest of the days to harvest were sunny and mild with cool nights producing Riesling grapes of style and substance. Flavour in the 2004 Riesling grapes expressed itself early. Picked in the cool of the night and swiftly transported to our winery, the grapes are given minimal handling and only free run juice is used in the making of Heggies Vineyard Riesling. The juice is fermented at a cool temperature using aromatic yeasts and blended early at the completion of vintage. As in 2003, the grapes had such perfect fruit/acid balance that the wine was able to be made without any extra acid additions. Pale straw colour with a delicate green tint, Heggies Vineyard Riesling 2004 displays intense aromas of citrus blossom and other white flowers. The palate is crisp and delicious with flavours of limes and fruit zest. Heggies Vineyard Riesling always shows a wonderful mineraly edge, as though you are tasting hints of the crushed quartz which is the underbed of much of the vineyard. The tight structure and natural acidity of this wine will see it age gracefully well into the next decade.

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2004


Eden Valley


Peter Gambetta


25 March to 8 April 2004


12.5%


6.9 g/L


3.06