Winemaker Notes
The Riesling vines from Great Western produce flavorsome, elegantly structured, spectacularly age-worthy Rieslings which stand confidently alongside some of the most outstanding Australian examples of the variety. In recent times, the style has evolved to match the Continental climatic conditions to a beautifully balanced wine with texture and aromatics.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A super-fresh riesling with lightly spicy edges to the lemon and sliced-pear fruit. There’s green apple on the palate and a dry, crisp run to the long, mouthwatering finish. Drink this young. Screw cap.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2021 Best’s Great Western Riesling shimmers pale straw with a green tint. It opens with inviting aromas of ripe apples and delicate floral notes. On the palate, it is crisp and focused, revealing a core of chalky minerality and bright acidity. This vibrant, textural Riesling makes an exceptional pairing with grilled slipper lobster brushed with lemon myrtle butter—a dish that accentuates the wine’s floral lift and mineral backbone, while the citrusy brightness of finger lime echoes its lively fruit tones. (Tasted: July 23, 2025, San Francisco, CA)
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
Nestled into the tip of its southeastern coastline, Victoria is Australia’s smallest mainland state, second most populous and third largest wine producer. Victoria includes the cool regions of Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Geelong, made famous mainly by impressive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The more inland Heathcote and Bendigo lead the way for complex and textured, full-bodied reds. Rutherglen’s fortified wines compete among the best on the planet.