Pewsey Vale Prima Riesling 2008 Front Label
Pewsey Vale Prima Riesling 2008 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

Very pale in colour with green hues; the aroma has a hint of the classic Pewsey Vale Riesling characters but is most prevalent of lemon blossom and home-made lime cordial. The palate shows great length with a vibrancy of perfumed fruits such as guava, mandarin and sweet peach overlaid with a touch of spicy clove. The balance of the wine is succulent and mouth-watering and invites a second glass. Both Pewsey Vale Vineyard Riesling and this style of wine have great pedigrees for ageing, so even though this is only the second Prima Riesling made, we know that the wine will cellar well, slowly developing flavour layers of fresh toast and spice for many years. (5-15+)

Prima Riesling is an early harvest style of wine made from grapes picked three to four weeks before the rest of the vineyard. Chosen for their fine citrus flavours the grapes were carefully selected when their natural sugar levels were near 10º baumé. The final wine has been made in a semi-dry style which retains some of the fruit sugars in balance with the chalky mineral acidity. The naturally lower alcohol of the wine further heightens its refreshing character.

Prima Riesling is our first use of the Vinolok closure for Pewsey Vale, a reusable and recyclable glass stopper that visually enhances the exotic nature of this wine whilst preserving its pure fruit flavours.

Professional Ratings

  • 90 Wine Spectator
    Smooth and distinctive, with lovely pear and nectarine fruit that balances against lively acidity. There's sweetness, but the acidity cuts it well, and this finishes as mouthwatering. An early-harvest style. Drink now through 2013.
Pewsey Vale

Pewsey Vale

View all products

You're no longer following this brand

You'll no longer receive alerts for new arrivals and brand updates

Image for Riesling content section
View all products

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.

Image for Australia content section
View all products

A large, climatically diverse country with incredibly diverse terrain, producing just about every wine style imaginable, Australia has a grand winemaking history and some of the oldest vines on the planet. Both red wine and white wine from Australian are wildly popular and beloved. Most of Australia's wine regions are concentrated in the south of the country with those inland experiencing warm, dry conditions and those in coastal areas receiving tropical, maritime or Mediterranean weather patterns. Australia has for several decades been at the forefront of winemaking technology and has widely adopted the use of screwcaps, even for some premium and ultra-premium bottles. Thanks to the country’s relatively agreeable climate throughout and the openness of its people, experimentation is common and ongoing.

Shiraz is indeed Australia’s most celebrated and widely planted variety; Barossa Valley leads the way, producing exceptionally bold and supple versions. Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia's second most planted variety, can be blended with Shiraz but also shines on its own particularly in Coonawarra and Margaret River. Grenache and Mourvèdre are also popular, both on their own and alongside Shiraz in Rhône Blends. Chardonnay is common throughout the country and made in a wide range of styles. Sauvignon Blanc has recently surged in popularity to compete with New Zealand’s distinctive version and Semillon is often blended in Margaret River or shines on its own in the Hunter Valley. Riesling thrives in the cool-climate Clare and Eden Valleys. Sticky-sweet fortified wine Rutherglen is a beloved regional specialty of Victoria.

HNYPVEPRG08C_2008 Item# 104964