Frankland Estate Riesling Isolation Ridge Frankland River 2021
Riesling | Australia
“Stand back as a Western Australian dry riesling masterpiece arrives. Vibrant, ripe and extremely expressive nose of fresh mangoes, hibiscus, and ripe pink grapefruit. Very concentrated and super-energetic, this also has a purity that makes your heart skip a beat. Extremely focused, long finish that's very stony, but not austere. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
–97 points, James Suckling
Whew! To that timpani-roll review of Frankland Estate’s organic 2021 Isolation Ridge Riesling, we’ll add a cymbal crash: ANOTHER 97 point score! Australian wine critic James Halliday bestowed 97 points with this breathless praise:
“Sandalwood, preserved citrus, black tea leaves and jasmine seamlessly merge into the more expected Frankland River riesling characters of lemon zest, green apple skins and chalk. In the mouth, the acidity is like a coiled spring, cushioned by voluminous fruit padding on all sides. This is svelte and streamlined, but it has presence and viscosity, too. There is subtle structural integrity and a spool of lingering flavour through the finish ... what a superb wine. This is generous, but it's tense and taut too... disguised austerity. Slatey.”
Music to our mouths. “...acidity is like a coiled spring, cushioned by voluminous fruit padding…” Yes, exactly, a texture you don’t think is possible until it’s happening to your own palate. The only note we’ll add is a wonderful lingering finish like a gingersnap cookie. This bottle is a must for anyone who drinks white or is married to someone who does. Try not to wait too long to place your order – very limited inventory.
Frankland was founded in 1988 by Barrie Smith and Judi Cullam, who already had a wool-growing operation in one of Western Australia's most remote corners when they decided to plant a vineyard up on Isolation Ridge. It’s 250km east of the acclaimed Margaret River wine region, and 50km inland from the wild Great Southern coastline. Their grown children Elizabeth and Hunter live on the land to this day, running the winery with a great deal of sincerity. Son-in-law Brian Kent is the winemaker; he cut his teeth in California's Russian River Valley and Rías Baixas in Spain. The team says of their vines, “You need to be immersed in them, as deeply and constantly as possible. This is the only way to see a simple and seamless transition from beautiful fruit to beautiful wine.”
Riesling is the main thing they do, and this not only tastes delicious now but will also age for years and years if you want.
About the Producer
Frankland Estate is one of Australia's most serious and cellar-worthy Riesling producers, with critic Jancis Robinson calling the wines “so distinctive and so delicious." The winery was founded in 1988 by Barrie Smith and Judi Cullam when they added a vineyard to the remote property in Western Australia where they were already running a wool-growing enterprise. It wasn’t entirely out of the blue. A decade earlier, they had ventured on a tour of vineyards in France and gone on to work two harvests at Château Sénéjac in the Haut-Médoc. Because Frankland Estate sits in Western Australia's most isolated wine region, they named their vineyard Isolation Ridge. Freedom from noise and light pollution makes for a beautifully clean growing environment, and the stable, cool climate lends itself to organic viticulture; the estate achieved certification in 2009. Today, the winery is in the capable hands of second-generation siblings Hunter and Elizabeth Smith, who grew up on the property, with Elizabeth's husband Brian Kent leading winemaking.
- Blend100% Riesling
- WinemakerBrian Kent
- CountryAustralia
- RegionWestern Australia
- AppellationGreat Southern
- VineyardEstate
- Farming MethodOrganic
- Aging/CooperageStainless steel
- Alcohol13.5%