2011 Silk Purse

Vineyard

The grapes for the 2009 Silk Purse are sourced from the lower 8 rows of the Riesling vineyard. This vineyard faces due north on an 18 degree slope with the rows approximately South East North West in orientation on a Scott-Henry trellis system. The trellis is opened towards the top of the slope in a southerly direction allowing important late season sunlight to linger on the hanging fruit. The laminated siltstones and shales of the slope allow for very reliable drainage and a warmer start to the growing season. This is a very important quality vineyard at Bloodwood.

Vintage Conditions

The 2009 vintage at Bloodwood was exceptional in quality. Reliable winter and early spring rainfalls gave way to a dry growing season interspersed with regular, adequate rainfalls at what seemed to be fortuitous intervals. A long, dry autumn allowed us to take the risk of leaving the Riesling hang until well after the first frosts and a small amount of pretty good fruit was picked in early June.

Winemaking

The main consideration here was a clean, efficient ferment minimizing volatile acidity and extended ferment characters. At 36 Brix, the partly botrytised grapes were hand-picked, hand-sorted and whole-bunch pressed to small enclosed fermentation vessel and allowed to cold settle under C02 and around 20ppm S02. Following several rackings to help clarify the juice (and to recover as much of the sticky stuff as we could) it was warmed to 18C and inoculated with an very actively growing Champagne yeast, along with selected nutrients and a good dollop of hope. Fermentation was slow and steady at first, but encouraged with regular applications of warmth through the cooling jacket until we judged the alcohol level to be around the 10% mark. Following bench trials, protein and cold stabilization, the wine was sterile filtered and bottled in August 2009.

Wine Analysis

pH 2.77
Acidity 8.2 g/l
Alc/Vol 10.5%

Tasting Notes

Medium green gold in colour, this wine shows zesty grapefruit and fine blossom aromas entwined in a delicately smooth and racy palate which has refreshingly crisp citrus acidity balancing the distinctive silky native honey influences of this late picked, lightly botrytised Riesling. Excellent current drinking, medium term cellaring will only add to your enjoyment of this fine wine.

What Other People Say

The Silk Purse (aka Ice Riesling and Noble Riesling) is an occasional serendipitous miracle of Bloodwood. Over the years it has attracted praise from international wine writers and consistent general support from home. We’ll leave you to be the judge.

Mr Halliday's Review of 2008 Silk Purse

“Stephen and Rhonda Doyle have been making wine in Orange since 1983, their vineyards planted at an elevation of 810 to 860 metres – very continental, and visited by snow and frost most winters. This wine is very long and intense, with pure Riesling fruit augmented (not subverted) by some botrytis; it has perfectly counterpoised sweetness and acidity. Screwcap; 10.5% alc/vol; to 2013 94 points

Mr Halliday's Review of 2009 Silk Purse

Stephen and Rhonda Doyle are doyens of the Orange region, having set up shop in 1983. They produce excellent chardonnay and shiraz, but it is with Riesling, both dry and late harvest, that they have starred, as this late harvest wine shows. Pale straw-green; a truly delicious wine; juicy lime flavours intensified by a touch of botrytis, but without warping varietal character; the balance is immaculate, the sweetness balanced by acidity. Screwcap; 10.5% alc/vol.
Rating 95 points
Drink to 2014