2018 Rieslingfreak no. 8

An Australian Riesling that shows a lot of character in a light (6% abv) style.
It has a nice green/gold colour and shows pure riesling fruit and a hint of green herbs followed by a good acid cut.
It is light in body, but has good balance, with the acidity in prominence.
The finish is crisp with the fruit in the background but still present.
The purity of fruit is impressive.
Not really a food wine but worth keeping for a few years to let the acidity soften.
The full name is Rieslingfreak No. 8 Polish Hill River Schatzenkammer Riesling.
Enjoyable.

Wow, 6% abv? Light indeed. I don't think I've ever even seen a Mosel that low. I've liked the Grosset Polish Hill, but this sounds very different.

[Jenise]

Wow, 6%!!! That's astonishing. Why No. 8--does that equate to vintage? Last year was No. 7?

They number the wines to distinguish one bottling from another.
I think they are all Clare Valley, but vineyards, blends and aging are different from one number to the next.
They have a no. 99, which is an experimental bottling that may or may not make it into the rotation, so it is different each year.

[David M. Bueker]

A lot of beer has more than 6% abv. That’s crazy!

Yes, that does sound low alcohol, and it sounds dry, so the sugars fully fermented. Which means there were not many sugars in the first place?!! Is this an extreme vineyard? Do they pick super early? Farm with the express intent of getting such grapes?

Early harvest.
The finished wine still had some residual sweetness.
The spec sheet shows 58 g/l of sugar and 10.2 g/l acid.

The spec sheet shows 58 g/l of sugar...

Presumably residual sugar. Sounds like a pretty full-bore modern Kabinett, which is what the website suggests. Interesting. And, at 6%, it can function like wine juice!