96/100 Erin Larkin, Wine Companion 94/100 Mike Bennie, Wine Front 94/100 Huon Hooke 96/100 Erin Larkin (2020 vintage) 94/100 James Suckling (2020 vintage) 93/100 Tyson Stelzer (2020 vintage) 93/100 The Wine Front (2020 vintage) 94/100 the Wine Front (2017 vintage) 96/100 Toni Paterson (2017 vintage)
97/100 - Top Riesling Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023
Langton Classification VII: Rated ‘Excellent’ Wine Ark: One of Australia’s ‘Ten Most Collected White Wines’ Halliday Wine Companion - Best Value Winery 2018 Langton Classification VI: Rated ‘Outstanding’ (2017 vintage) Wine Ark: one of Australia’s ‘Five Most Collected White Wines’ (2017 vintage)
Erin Larkin, Wine Companion "Where the Polish Hill is the powerful, muscular one of the family, the Springvale is the often underestimated little sibling. Similarly powerfully structured, but leaning towards the spicy end of the spectrum rather than plum in the middle of fleshy fruit power. This is structured and saline, with layers of cut lime, red apple skins, saffron, turmeric and citrus pith. All of it encased in briny acidity and stretched out over an interminably long finish. Generous and structured at once. Super smart."
Mike Bennie, Wine Front "Springvale ahoy! Pretty perfume of frangipani, honeysuckle and lime with faint hints of blackcurrants. Juicy and approachable in the palate, slick with citrus oil characters, cool with lacy line of acidity, a touch of salted nuts, all well balanced, exceptional in length and persistence. Feels concentrated and quietly powerful. Smart release."
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Very light to pale-straw colour. The aromas are on the more lifted and fragrant side, with a bouquet of flowers … the palate refined and seamless, soft as talc and harmonious, the acidity perfectly balanced, the finish refreshing and long. Dry-but-soft aftertaste. A lovely wine… needs more time to settle. "
Mike Bennie (The Wine Front) "Easy access Springvale, following a similar thread with 2020 Polish Hill too. Waxy texture with a juicy finish, lime cordial, floral things in scent and mouth perfume, a little bit of apple dunked in lemon juice and a starburst of grapefruit juice lending tightness and freshness while making you squint and flush warm under your eyes. Touches of smoky mineral character? A little truffle note? Almost a candied mixed peel thing going on. Bolder flavours, bigger mouthfeel, no dart-shaped precision here, but a pleasing, fleshier wine is here. Intrigue." (2020 vintage)
James Suckling "This has a very fresh nectarine and lime nose with light floral notes and delivers a fleshy, ripe palate that has juicy, drink-now appeal. A little stony mineral to close." (2020 vintage)
Erin Larkin "Lime zest, pith, limestone and white pepper. Freshly crushed granny smith apple (skin on) and brine in there too. There is a salty lick that forms the backbone of acid that runs through the very core of this wine. It doesn’t flow in the order I expect it to, which takes nothing away from it, it just makes it unique. Savoury, salty and tight but underpinned by fleshy generosity… it’s like a firm steel structure thrown onto a plush down-filled coverlet… enduring, stupendous length of flavour – I can taste it long after it is gone. Saline and lingering. Great length of flavour. Powerhouse." (2020 vintage)
Tyson Stelzer "Jeff Grosset describes the volume of his 40th vintage as ‘woeful’, with drought inflicting his lowest yields in three decades. To achieve his signature pinpoint accuracy under such circumstances is monumental indeed. All the fragrant apple blossom, fresh lemon and crunchy granny smith apple that we love of Springvale are here in full measure, impeccably energised by focussed acidity" (2020 vintage)
Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023, Erin Larkin "Where the Polish Hill is the powerful, muscular one of the family, the Springvale is the often underestimated little sibling. Similarly powerfully structured, but leaning towards the spicy end of the spectrum rather than plum in the middle of fleshy fruit power. This is structured and saline, with layers of cut lime, red apple skins, saffron, turmeric and citrus pith. All of it encased in briny acidity and stretched out over an interminably long finish. Generous and structured at once. Super smart." (2019 vintage)
Toni Paterson: "Exquisite, pure citrus aromas. The palate is wildly intense with perfectly integrated acidity and palate softness. There is a pleasing tang at the front, followed by a focused, gently textural, sweet-lemon middle. The mineral core running through the wine is simply captivating. Magic." (2017 vintage)
Tony Love, The Source SA "The king of Clare’s rieslings have become benchmarks, both domestically and internationally… (Springvale) has often played bridesmaid to a Polish Hill sibling but here there might just be a dead-heat, everything about this in its florals, cut lime fruits, tingling acidity and minerally textures fusing seamlessly. It’s endlessly pleasurable but do try the Polish Hill as well. 5 Stars." (2017 vintage)
Decanter Magazine ~ The World’s Top 10 White Winemakers #6 Jeffrey Grosset
"When the young Jeffrey Grosset launched his own winery in the Clare Valley in the early 1980’s, he was swimming against the tide. Back then, Chardonnay was the rising star of Australian Wine. But Grosset wanted to make Riesling, and to focus on letting the grapes speak for themselves. The rest of the Australian wine industry has, of course, caught up with Grosset since, thanks in part to the example set by this focused, restlessly intelligent winemaker. By consistently producing arguably Australia’s two best Rieslings – the flowery, lime-rich Watervale and the steely, firm Polish Hill – Grosset has not only helped steer the reversal in this variety’s fortunes, but has provided one of the country’s most powerful arguments in favour of the reality of terroir"
Grosset Wines are an independently owned winery producing highly regarded premium wines. Established in 1981, the winery is situated in the historic township of Auburn at the southern tip of the Clare Valley, 100 kilometres north of Adelaide.
Jeffrey Grosset, owner and founder, has always been an innovator, challenging tradition and questioning accepted practices. He campaigned to institute the legal integrity of the Riesling grape in Australia, was a leading proponent for the introduction of screw cap closures and privately funded research into the subject.
Grosset Wines’ philosophy has remained steadfast over thirty years. The emphasis is on purity of fruit. The estate vineyards, which are ACO certified organic, are hand tended and each bunch of grapes is harvested at optimum ripeness.
Riesling is a light-skinned, aromatic grape of German origin which is – if the majority of top wine critics are to be believed – the world's finest white wine grape variety. The Riesling vine holds a very different place in the wine world to such great grapes as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Chardonnay. While these immensely popular varieties have conquered every corner of the winegrowing world, Riesling is conspicuously absent from the core wine regions of France, Spain and Italy. Riesling's home is the regions that trace the middle Rhine and the lower Mosel, two of Europe's great wine rivers.
96/100 Erin Larkin, Wine Companion 94/100 Mike Bennie, Wine Front 94/100 Huon Hooke 96/100 Erin Larkin (2020 vintage) 94/100 James Suckling (2020 vintage) 93/100 Tyson Stelzer (2020 vintage) 93/100 The Wine Front (2020 vintage) 94/100 the Wine Front (2017 vintage) 96/100 Toni Paterson (2017 vintage)
97/100 - Top Riesling Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023
Langton Classification VII: Rated ‘Excellent’ Wine Ark: One of Australia’s ‘Ten Most Collected White Wines’ Halliday Wine Companion - Best Value Winery 2018 Langton Classification VI: Rated ‘Outstanding’ (2017 vintage) Wine Ark: one of Australia’s ‘Five Most Collected White Wines’ (2017 vintage)
Erin Larkin, Wine Companion "Where the Polish Hill is the powerful, muscular one of the family, the Springvale is the often underestimated little sibling. Similarly powerfully structured, but leaning towards the spicy end of the spectrum rather than plum in the middle of fleshy fruit power. This is structured and saline, with layers of cut lime, red apple skins, saffron, turmeric and citrus pith. All of it encased in briny acidity and stretched out over an interminably long finish. Generous and structured at once. Super smart."
Mike Bennie, Wine Front "Springvale ahoy! Pretty perfume of frangipani, honeysuckle and lime with faint hints of blackcurrants. Juicy and approachable in the palate, slick with citrus oil characters, cool with lacy line of acidity, a touch of salted nuts, all well balanced, exceptional in length and persistence. Feels concentrated and quietly powerful. Smart release."
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Very light to pale-straw colour. The aromas are on the more lifted and fragrant side, with a bouquet of flowers … the palate refined and seamless, soft as talc and harmonious, the acidity perfectly balanced, the finish refreshing and long. Dry-but-soft aftertaste. A lovely wine… needs more time to settle. "
Mike Bennie (The Wine Front) "Easy access Springvale, following a similar thread with 2020 Polish Hill too. Waxy texture with a juicy finish, lime cordial, floral things in scent and mouth perfume, a little bit of apple dunked in lemon juice and a starburst of grapefruit juice lending tightness and freshness while making you squint and flush warm under your eyes. Touches of smoky mineral character? A little truffle note? Almost a candied mixed peel thing going on. Bolder flavours, bigger mouthfeel, no dart-shaped precision here, but a pleasing, fleshier wine is here. Intrigue." (2020 vintage)
James Suckling "This has a very fresh nectarine and lime nose with light floral notes and delivers a fleshy, ripe palate that has juicy, drink-now appeal. A little stony mineral to close." (2020 vintage)
Erin Larkin "Lime zest, pith, limestone and white pepper. Freshly crushed granny smith apple (skin on) and brine in there too. There is a salty lick that forms the backbone of acid that runs through the very core of this wine. It doesn’t flow in the order I expect it to, which takes nothing away from it, it just makes it unique. Savoury, salty and tight but underpinned by fleshy generosity… it’s like a firm steel structure thrown onto a plush down-filled coverlet… enduring, stupendous length of flavour – I can taste it long after it is gone. Saline and lingering. Great length of flavour. Powerhouse." (2020 vintage)
Tyson Stelzer "Jeff Grosset describes the volume of his 40th vintage as ‘woeful’, with drought inflicting his lowest yields in three decades. To achieve his signature pinpoint accuracy under such circumstances is monumental indeed. All the fragrant apple blossom, fresh lemon and crunchy granny smith apple that we love of Springvale are here in full measure, impeccably energised by focussed acidity" (2020 vintage)
Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023, Erin Larkin "Where the Polish Hill is the powerful, muscular one of the family, the Springvale is the often underestimated little sibling. Similarly powerfully structured, but leaning towards the spicy end of the spectrum rather than plum in the middle of fleshy fruit power. This is structured and saline, with layers of cut lime, red apple skins, saffron, turmeric and citrus pith. All of it encased in briny acidity and stretched out over an interminably long finish. Generous and structured at once. Super smart." (2019 vintage)
Toni Paterson: "Exquisite, pure citrus aromas. The palate is wildly intense with perfectly integrated acidity and palate softness. There is a pleasing tang at the front, followed by a focused, gently textural, sweet-lemon middle. The mineral core running through the wine is simply captivating. Magic." (2017 vintage)
Tony Love, The Source SA "The king of Clare’s rieslings have become benchmarks, both domestically and internationally… (Springvale) has often played bridesmaid to a Polish Hill sibling but here there might just be a dead-heat, everything about this in its florals, cut lime fruits, tingling acidity and minerally textures fusing seamlessly. It’s endlessly pleasurable but do try the Polish Hill as well. 5 Stars." (2017 vintage)
Decanter Magazine ~ The World’s Top 10 White Winemakers #6 Jeffrey Grosset
"When the young Jeffrey Grosset launched his own winery in the Clare Valley in the early 1980’s, he was swimming against the tide. Back then, Chardonnay was the rising star of Australian Wine. But Grosset wanted to make Riesling, and to focus on letting the grapes speak for themselves. The rest of the Australian wine industry has, of course, caught up with Grosset since, thanks in part to the example set by this focused, restlessly intelligent winemaker. By consistently producing arguably Australia’s two best Rieslings – the flowery, lime-rich Watervale and the steely, firm Polish Hill – Grosset has not only helped steer the reversal in this variety’s fortunes, but has provided one of the country’s most powerful arguments in favour of the reality of terroir"
Grosset Wines are an independently owned winery producing highly regarded premium wines. Established in 1981, the winery is situated in the historic township of Auburn at the southern tip of the Clare Valley, 100 kilometres north of Adelaide.
Jeffrey Grosset, owner and founder, has always been an innovator, challenging tradition and questioning accepted practices. He campaigned to institute the legal integrity of the Riesling grape in Australia, was a leading proponent for the introduction of screw cap closures and privately funded research into the subject.
Grosset Wines’ philosophy has remained steadfast over thirty years. The emphasis is on purity of fruit. The estate vineyards, which are ACO certified organic, are hand tended and each bunch of grapes is harvested at optimum ripeness.
Riesling is a light-skinned, aromatic grape of German origin which is – if the majority of top wine critics are to be believed – the world's finest white wine grape variety. The Riesling vine holds a very different place in the wine world to such great grapes as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Chardonnay. While these immensely popular varieties have conquered every corner of the winegrowing world, Riesling is conspicuously absent from the core wine regions of France, Spain and Italy. Riesling's home is the regions that trace the middle Rhine and the lower Mosel, two of Europe's great wine rivers.
