2014 Isolation Ridge Riesling
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2014 Isolation Ridge Riesling sits in an interesting space currently, and aromatically, there is cold buttered toast, lemon curd, damp straw, sherbet, exotic spice, lemongrass and wafts of shaved ginger. The wine is textural yet lithe and long—it soars. Like a boomerang, the finish comes back to you, with more flavor and spice than it departed with, making this a full spectrum of flavor and texture. This is balanced, juicy and exciting. You could drink it now, but I feel it will repay more time in bottle. This 2014 was the first time the Alter Weg Riesling was made, which represents an escalation of trialing in the vineyard and winery with ripeness, residual sugars and other stylistic levers. Exciting times at this estate.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Full screwcapped bottle 1,342 g. Australian certified organic. Museum release. They always put some wine aside to release at 10 years old. Deep straw. Light-bodied, bone dry and with distinctly toasty notes. Tastes as though the grapes were picked earlier than the 2023s. This is tasting good now but probably when it was young the acidity was a bit prominent. Just a tad austere texturally on the end, though the nose is lovely. (JR)
Much more interesting aroma than the Rock Gully Riesling 2016, thanks to a bit of bottle age. Plenty of lemon and lime still but also the very beginning of a kerosene-like note, definitely more mineral. All this is reflected on the palate, where there is a distinctive, almost chalky, texture. Dry tasting though I suspect there are a few grams of RS to balance the crisp acidity. (JH)
(11.7% alcohol): Pale straw. Vibrant, mineral-laced lime and quince aromas, along with suggestions of jasmine, green tea and ginger. Lithe, wiry and precise on the palate, conveying a suave, delicate touch to its nervy citrus fruit and lemongrass flavors. Pure, weightless Riesling with superb finishing clarity and mineral-driven persistence.