CUDLEE CREEK – ADELAIDE HILLS
95 Points – New Goodwin MW, jamessuckling.com:
”This is very good…. The trajectory of alpine to garden herb riffs, gently verdant with notes of celery root the most dominant, are glossed with baking spice, golden apple and quince. Supremely fresh, pungently mineral and all so juicy, despite the zinging acidity doused with white pepper that drags the finish. Long. Of the three stupendous gruners, this is the closest to the Austrian postcode, more medium-bodied Weinviertel than Wachau. Delicious wine. Organic. Drink or hold.“
The Wine
The drive through the hills from CRFT HQ to Mt Bera is a windy and picturesque experience. The gorge section from Cudlee Creek to the gate gives you no choice but to be immersed in it. From the road, the rugged terrain makes a vineyard seem unlikely, but as you twist up the hill you are rewarded with an amphitheatre with a vineyard that stretches from the hill-top down.
The experience follows through to the wine, in the glass it has a visual and aromatic liveliness. The nose has a crackle and pop of fennel and white pepper.
The palate is textual and savoury with celery, alpine strawberry, mineral and lime characters that leave you feeling refreshed.
The vineyard was in the organic conversion phase for 2023 harvest and has now received full organic certification (June 2023).
Drink now to 2030, possibly beyond.
Serve 9-11C, cooler in warm weather
12.5% alc/vol
Winemaking
Harvested on 3rd April and hand-made at CRFT Carey Gully winery.
100% organically grown and certified ‘In-Conversion’ Cudlee Creek Grüner hand-picked on April 3rd.
Whole-bunch pressed to tank to begin fermentation then transferred into oak for wild fermentation on full solids. 100% older seasoned (neutral) French barriques.
100% wild yeast ferment. Full wild MLF. Occasional lees stirring. 9 weeks in oak.Bottled July 2023. Vegan friendly.
Mt Bera Vineyard
Vineyard: Owned and farmed by Greg Horner.
Location: Cudlee Creek - Peramangk Country – Adelaide Hills
Elevation: 380 to 410 metres
Aspect: North North West
Planted: 2011
Clone: Iby, HHW1, HHW2
Map: -34.844650, 138.847464
Soil: Rich deep red clay loam soil high in iron, magnesium and manganese.
The Mt Bera Gruner vineyard has a three-sided cold-catchment with only drainage down to the Karrawirra Parri (Torrens) Gorge. This provides unique conditions producing a huge diurnal variation of 15-20C. These conditions favour notes of pepper and spice and higher natural acidity.
