Riesling 2013 - Black Market Deal #61119

Premium Clare Valley Rieslings are renowned for their exceptional ageing potential, often improving for 10-20 years or more. The high natural acidity and mineral backbone from the region's slate and limestone soils act as natural preservatives, while the westerly aspect of this Watervale vineyard provides ideal ripening conditions. As the wine matures, the citrus flavours evolve into more complex honeyed and toasty notes while retaining that signature lime zest character.

Watervale sits in the heart of Clare Valley at an elevation that provides cool nights and warm days, creating perfect conditions for slow Riesling ripening. The sub-region's unique terroir combines ancient soils with excellent drainage, while the westerly vineyard aspect mentioned here captures afternoon sun without excessive heat stress. This combination produces Rieslings with intense minerality and the structural integrity needed for long-term cellaring.

Serve this mature Riesling slightly warmer than you would a young version - around 8-10°C rather than fridge-cold. The additional bottle age means the wine has developed more complex aromatics that need slightly warmer temperatures to fully express themselves. Use a proper wine glass rather than a narrow flute to allow the evolved citrus and mineral characters to open up properly.

The wine's retained acidity and developed complexity make it perfect for Asian cuisine, particularly Thai or Vietnamese dishes where the lime notes complement spicy and aromatic flavours. The minerality also pairs beautifully with fresh seafood like oysters or grilled fish, while the textural development from bottle age means it can handle richer dishes like roasted chicken or pork with fruit-based sauces.

James Halliday's 95-point score places this wine in the 'outstanding' category, representing exceptional quality that's only awarded to the top 2-3% of wines reviewed. Combined with the Five Star Winery rating, this indicates both the individual wine's excellence and the producer's consistent track record. The Gold Medal from Royal Perth Wine Show further validates the wine's quality through blind professional judging against peer wines.