The 2022 vintage release of the Plantagenet Three Lions Riesling is a very pale straw colour. The aromatics are vibrant rose petal and floral notes with hints of aromatic musk and orange blossom. A generously weighted palate focused around a limey/citrus core and complex mineral flavours. The naturally high acidity provides the backbone for the abundant fruit flavours to be carried with a long, clean finish.
95 points - "Plantagenet have knocked this one out of the park. A stunning, young, approachable drink-now style of Riesling with beautiful aromatics. Talcy florals, lemon zest and lemon myrtle. The palate is equally flamboyant and more open than most, offering a delicate pithy texture, a streak of lime acidity, more zesty and apple flavours." - WA Wine Guide
Plantagenet’s vineyard estate has been carved out of the Great Southern's distinctive Marri Soils named after the massive native Marri, or Red Gum trees that grow there.
The soils are ironstone gravelly sandy loams over a base of clay or ironstone rock. The vineyard block sites were selected where good water drainage allows control over vine vigour, one of the most important determinants of fruit quality.
The 2022 Great Southern vintage provided some challenges to viticulturists and winemakers. One of the wettest and coldest winters provided a delayed start to the season. The ample soil moisture allowed healthy canopies to flourish. Some further spring rain at flowering reduced crop levels. However, the loose bunch set was a blessing and allowed intense flavour development. Some nice sunny weather helped the vines catch up on their development leading into harvest, with only about a two-week delay on average. Intermittent rain and heat events meant the viticulture team needed to be on song. It was tough, but the result was some intensely flavoured grapes (from the low crops and more extended growing season) that were perfectly balanced.
The fruit for the 2022 Three Lions Riesling was selectively machine harvested in the cool of the night. Free run (500L/T) and pressings separated and lightly fined before clarification and fermentation. Riesling-specific yeast strains are used to highlight the natural fruit characters of the vineyard—fermented cool (<15˚C) in stainless steel to dryness. The wine was racked post-fermentation, and light lees retained, with regular stirring. It was blended to taste with a light fining before bottling.
