Riesling 2023 – Black Market Deal #49823

Frankland River has emerged as one of Australia's premier cool-climate regions, particularly renowned for producing Rieslings with exceptional balance and longevity. The region's unique terroir combines warm days with cool nights, allowing grapes to develop intense flavours while retaining crucial natural acidity. This creates the perfect conditions for Rieslings that showcase both power and elegance, explaining why the region is gaining international recognition among wine enthusiasts.

Serve this Riesling well-chilled at 8-10°C to highlight its crisp acidity and aromatic intensity. The wine's light body and vibrant citrus-tropical profile makes it perfect as an aperitif or paired with fresh seafood, Asian cuisine, or soft cheeses. Given its potent white flower aromatics, use a smaller bowl white wine glass to concentrate the bouquet and enhance the tasting experience.

The Canberra International Riesling Challenge is Australia's most prestigious competition dedicated exclusively to Riesling, making this 95-point score particularly significant. This rating places the wine in the 'outstanding' category, indicating exceptional quality that stands out even among Australia's finest Rieslings. The competition's focus on this single varietal means judges have highly refined palates for Riesling specifically, making their recognition especially meaningful.

Quality Australian Rieslings like this one are renowned for their exceptional ageing potential, often developing beautifully over 10-15 years or more. The wine's powerful acid structure acts as a natural preservative, while the intense fruit flavours will evolve from fresh tropical notes to more complex honey and petrol characteristics over time. Store bottles on their side in a cool, dark place at consistent temperature for optimal development.

The wine's combination of tropical fruit flavours and bracing acidity makes it incredibly food-friendly, particularly with dishes that have some heat or richness. Try it with Thai green curry, grilled prawns with lime, fresh oysters, or even spicy Indian cuisine where the wine's acidity cuts through rich sauces. The musk and citrus notes also complement pork dishes, particularly those with fruit-based glazes or Asian-inspired marinades.