Remhoogte, Stellenbosch (Coastal Region, South Africa) Riesling 2023

 There isn’t a lot of Riesling planted in South Africa but Remhoogte found an untended vineyard on a neighboring property.  This vineyard was on a ridge planted in hard shale soils and they were able to make an arrangement that allowed the Remhoogte team to manage the vineyard and make wine from the grapes.  After harvest, the grapes are lightly pressed, fermented to bone dry — no residual sugar — and bottled immediately.  As a bone dry Riesling, the acidity is crisp and balances wonderfully with traditional tree fruit notes.  A touch of petroleum on the nose suggests this wine can be bottle aged for years to come.  Free to Be is Winemaker Chris Boustred’s experimental labeling, where he can change the wine every few years — check the back label to verify which Free to Be wine you are purchasing as they make other white wines under this label.  Chris also hinted that Riesling could join Remhoogte’s mainline offering in the future.  With wine quality like this, I hope Remhoogte’s Riesling makes the transition.