Mt Difficulty Bannockburn Dry Riesling 2023

The Mt Difficulty winery was started in 1998 with a very small production of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, these are now some of the oldest vineyards in Bannockburn. This vine age gives the wines, particularly the Pinot Noirs, extra complexity and concentration. The Bannockburn area is internationally recognised as one of the few places in the world outside Burgundy where the pernickety Pinot Noir variety has found a home. Parts of New Zealand and cooler areas on the western seaboard of the United States are the only other regions where Pinot Noir seems to truly flourish. The unique microclimate of the Bannockburn area is partially created by the presence of Mount Difficulty which overlooks the southern Cromwell basin. Mount Difficulty is integral in providing low rainfall and humidity for the region.

W.G. Rees, one of the original settlers in the Wakitipu Basin, employed a party of six men as drovers to bring a flock of 3000 sheep from Oamaru on the east coast of the South Island. This was an arduous undertaking with many rivers and a number of mountain passes to traverse. Crossing the Cairnmuir Range to avoid the Cromwell Gorge, they reached the Kawarau river, but found it impossible to get the sheep up the Kawarau Gorge – the gap between the bluff and the river was too narrow. The mountain above this bluff they called Mt Difficulty.

A pale green hue with notes of yuzu, grapefruit and lemon peel along with some sweet floral notes on the nose. The palate is focused and driven with low acidity providing tension and length in the mouth. citrus and crushed stone flavours flow through the palate for a long, balanced finish. this is a riesling with a long future. - Matt Dicey, Winemaker

The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Riesling
Country - New Zealand
Region - Central Otago
Vintage - 2023
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%