This white wine is light and lively, offering a delicate yet complex profile. Notes of cucumber, tonic water, lemon, and minerals, along with hints of alpine herbs, create a refreshing experience. Its powdery dry texture and briny minerality make it perfect for warm days and beach-side enjoyment. A commendable effort in pioneering this variety in Australia.

After undergoing two years of quarantine, the best cuttings of Assyrtiko vines were released in 2010. By 2011, 32 buds from these mother vines were successfully grafted onto existing Riesling vines in two Clare Valley vineyards. The initial grafting yielded enough fruit in 2014 to produce the first 15 liters of Assyrtiko wine. Subsequently, the mother vines produced 658 additional cuttings, leading to the planting of 658 Assyrtiko vines on a south-facing slope in the Lodge Hill Vineyard on August 28, 2012. The Lodge Hill Vineyard, located in the eastern ranges of Clare Valley, now hosts three hectares of Assyrtiko vines. Some vines are grown using the kouloura method, in keeping with Santorini tradition, while others are grown on trellises. The propagation and planting efforts continued, resulting in a total of 6.87 hectares of Assyrtiko vines across four vineyard locations in the Clare Valley. Despite Clare's cooler climate and higher rainfall compared to the arid conditions of Santorini, the decision to grow Assyrtiko in the region was made to acknowledge and adapt to climate change. Assyrtiko's ability to transmit terroir is evident in the wine's early and mineral aftertaste, reflecting the volcanic soil of Santorini. The Clare Valley's soil and climate contribute to an expression of Assyrtiko that shares many characteristics with those produced on the island, along with nuanced differences that add excitement to the wine.

Halliday Rating: 93 points