BLACK ESTATE DAMSTEEP RIESLING 2021

Black Estate winemaker Nicholas Brown has been awarded 2022 NZ Winemaker of the Year by Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine

The Damsteep vineyard is aptly named. Located about 10kms north of the Home Block on the eastern side of the main highway. Formerly known as the Spye vineyard, Black Estate purchased this in 2012 and have converted it to organics. The steep clay slopes are planted in several blocks. The Riesling is on the lower slopes. The fruit was hand harvested then gently slow pressed with a portion fermented in older oak. All naturally fermented with very low Sulphur addition and the wine is unfined and unfiltered so it will appear slightly cloudy in the glass.

Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"Dry Riesling, grown on the clay foothills of Damsteep.  Fresh aromas of wild honey, lime, ginger, orange blossom, and bees wax. Dense and powerful on the palate, with a satisfying balance of fresh acidity and ripe fruit. Un-fined and unfiltered.  Minimal sulphur at bottling, this wine retains CO2 from fermentation and a fine sediment may form in the bottle. Enjoy."

Reviews for previous vintages below…

Rated Outstanding & 95/100 Cameron Douglas MS, June 2021 (2020 Vintage)
"Powerful, distinctive, fragrant, fleshy, varietal and alluring bouquet. Orange and quince, lemon and saffron, apple and lemon, roses and stony soil flavours. The wine dances across the palate with a light youthful freshness, plenty of acidity and flavours that mirror the bouquet. Crisp, fresh and dry on the finish this is a delicious example with a long finish. Fantastic as an aperitif. Best drinking upon purchase and through 2030+."

5 Stars & 19/20 (95) Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, April 2021 (2020 Vintage)
"Bright, pale straw-yellow with some depth, even colour throughout. A small amount of fine bead persist. The bouquet is voluminous and ripe, nuances of yellow stonefruit melded with subtle fragrant floral, enriched by honey suggested a sweet palate. Medium-bodied, dry to taste, bright and vibrant with crisp acidity; aromas of apple, apricot, pineapple have a taut core; wildflower meadow lingers with a honey note and delicate spices to a refreshing, long, dry finish. Fine-textured phenolic added to the mouthfeel, reminiscent of apple skins; taut acid drive is round-edged flows with good energy. This is a crisp Riesling with the richness of ripe fruit and honey, a taut acid drive and a fine texture. Match with clams in seaweed butter and blue cod sashimi in ponzu over the next 6-8 years. 48% foot crushed with up to 24 hours skin soak. Whole bunch pressed, fermented without settling with vineyard derived yeast to 12.5% alc, 2.94 g/l RS, aged on lees in stainless steel tanks and old barrels for 5 months. Unfined and unfiltered. BioGro organic certified, vegan friendly."

4 Stars Michael Cooper (2019 Vintage)
"Certified organic, the 2019 vintage is a dry style (1.8 grams/litre residual sugar), given an extended period of lees aging in stainless steel tanks and some old barrels. Pale straw, with yeasty aromas, it is full-bodied, with generous, ripe stonefruit and spice flavours, a hint of ginger, and good complexity and harmony. A distinctive wine, it’s already quite expressive and likely to be at its best 2021+."