Sixty-second Swirl by Brent Lello, Yass Valley Times Wine Columnist
Cockatoo Hill rises conically above the Yass Valley plain between Murrumbateman and Yass in an area known as Gounyan. This area is steeped in history, with Gounyan being one of the first plots to be established by early white settlers back in the early 1820’s. Today, it’s also home to one of the Yass Valley region’s newest vineyards and wine producers – Gounyan Wines.
I have previously reviewed the Gounyan Wines Sangiovese 2021, but they also produce a Rosé and a deliciously delectable Riesling, which is the focus of this week’s “swirl” – the Gounyan Wines Riesling 2022.
This is a quality wine made in the classic cool climate style that our region has become well known for.
This youthful Riesling is a pale straw colour with pale gold flashes from within. A swirl invites aromas of candied grapefruit, lemon zest, lychee and orange blossom with a sprinkle of crushed green garden herbs. The palate is bright and vibrant with tangy juicy grapefruit and lemon flavours with a squeeze of lime juice at the edge. This wine is a beautiful balance of juicy fruity and clean, crisp acidity, leading to a long and lingering finish. This is a rippingly delicious wine.
We enjoyed our bottle with a homemade seafood laksa, and the juicy flavours and crisp acidity of the wine married up well with the creamy, punchy flavours and chilli kick of the laksa.
This “Rizza” would go really well with any Thai chicken or seafood dish or a grilled fillet of south coast snapper with a squeeze of lemon and drizzle of butter.
I sourced my bottle from the wonderful local wine selection at the Yass Valley Information Centre, but you can also purchase at Thyme to Taste or enjoy it at the Yazzbar. In Canberra, you can pick it up at the Canberra Wine & Spirits Merchants and also the Prohibition outlets or buy it online – six bottles for $168.
An honest, very funny account of a couple’s move to the country for a fresh start. Bursting with optimism and a can-do attitude, they’re on a steep learning curve as they establish a vineyard and learn how things are done in the bush.
When Deirdre and her husband Roger decide to turn a sheep paddock into a vineyard, they were following the centuries-old tradition of family wine-making.
Bit by bit they clean up the land, plant vines, protect them through storms and drought and turn a shack into a cottage. Slowly they start to read the landscape, appreciate the talents of locals and learn what to do when a snake passes by.
Available through Amazon, Booktopia & Dymocks
