The Noble Wrinkled Riesling
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically outstanding upon release, but easily cellared for 5 to 15 years, during which it develops complex notes of toast, marmalade, and beeswax.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Blue cheese, lemon tart, fruit-based desserts
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Hailing from the imaginative portfolio of d'Arenberg, 'The Noble Wrinkled Riesling' is a luscious dessert wine that owes its existence to the magical intervention of Botrytis cinerea, or 'noble rot.' The name playfully describes the shriveled, dehydrated state of the Riesling grapes at harvest, which concentrates the sugars, acids, and flavors to an extraordinary degree. Hand-harvested from select vineyards in South Australia, the botrytis-affected grapes undergo a gentle pressing before a cool, slow fermentation. This painstaking process yields a nectar of remarkable complexity, balancing intense sweetness with the naturally vibrant, piercing acidity of Riesling. It is celebrated for its opulent aromas of candied citrus peel, dried apricots, honey, and exotic spices, representing a triumph of patience and natural alchemy in the vineyard.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1912 by Joseph Osborn in the heart of McLaren Vale, South Australia, d'Arenberg is a historic, family-owned winery currently guided by fourth-generation winemaker Chester Osborn. Renowned for its traditional, hands-on approach, the estate utilizes very old basket presses and practices foot-treading for all its red wines, maintaining a steadfast commitment to organic and biodynamic viticulture. The winery is celebrated for its highly characterful, complex wines with distinctive, quirky names, most notably its flagship 'The Dead Arm' Shiraz, alongside exceptional Grenache and Rhône-style blends. Today, the estate seamlessly blends its rich heritage with avant-garde innovation, epitomized by the iconic d'Arenberg Cube visitor center rising above the ancient vines.