Foudre Ferment Great Western Riesling

Awesome! Is this the best Foudre Ferment Rizza from Best’s to date? I think so. Impeccable balance and tremendous flavour intensity.

The Foudre can do some cool stuff with Riesling.

Tasted at Best’s Cellars whilst road tripping to the Yarra Valley.

A fun Bottling, zingy.
Tasted the 2018 currently in The Fou, a textural marvel.

Excellent. Texture, hints of tropical fruit. Loves a bit of chilli.

Well this is interesting. Wild ferment and oak maturation, there's texture to be savoured here, along with plenty of (touch too much, dep on food match?) residual sweetness. Put it up against something spicy.

This is not just another Riesling, trust me.

Firstly a big thanks to Best’s Wines for sending me this new release sample of their 2018 ‘Foudre Ferment’ Riesling. This Riesling is part of their small parcel releases (aka there’s not a lot of it going around). Best’s are located in Victoria’s Great Western Grampians wine region.

While sipping on this Riesling I enjoyed reading their Concongella Chronicle which is full of company news, recipes, Melbourne wine bar tips, and more. I learnt that Best’s Wines was named the Best Tasting Experience in the Grampians in the 2019 Gourmet Traveller WINE Cellar Door awards. So definitely one to add to your wine travel bucket lists guys!

Now back to the Riesling, here’s what makes this Riesling unique:

Extended skin contact
It’s wild fermented in a large French oak foudre made by the famous cooper Marc Greiner
2018 was a great vintage for Riesling in the Great Western (resulting in wines with great natural acidity which gives vibrancy to the wine)
It weighs in at 11% alcohol and has been crafted by winemaker, Justin Purser. They suggest to drink this wine in the short to medium term (now-2029) and to pair it with spicy Asian food.

So what did we think about it? Here are my notes:

It’s a pale straw colour with a slight hint of lime coming through. On the nose it makes me think of pears in syrup, floral candies and it has subtle honey notes. Those honeyed notes flow through to the palate to meet refreshing citrus acidity. And it has a nice clean finish. Beautiful!

This Riesling retails for $35 and can be bought via the Best’s Wines website.

This wine was sent to me direct from the winery as a sample, I was under no obligation to post about it.

All opinions are based on my own taste buds. Wine is subjective & always evolving, so make sure you drink what you enjoy!

Very deep, not too sour Riesling

Unique Riesling that is wild fermented in large neutral French oak. Smooth, dry and honeyed with well integrated acidity and notes of lemongrass, yellow flowers, and petrol. $30

No. No.

This is my jam. Favourite rizza in the Best's line-up. Paired beautifully with whiting.