Orange’s Colmar Estate is heralding 2022 as their best riesling vintage to date and has released three wines in different styles. The wines comprise the 2022 Colmar Estate ‘Reserve’ Riesling, 2022 Colmar Estate ‘Block 5’ Riesling, and 2022 Colmar Estate Riesling.
Colmar Estate is owned by vignerons Bill and Jane Shrapnel, who purchased the cool climate, six-hectare vineyard in 2013. The vineyard sits at a lofty elevation of 980 metres on Orange’s Mount Canobolas. Planted in the 1990s, the vineyard is one of Australia’s highest and comprises riesling, pinot gris, gewürztraminer, chardonnay, pinot noir and shiraz.
“2022 was the latest harvest we have experienced,” explains Bill. “Whereas we normally pick our riesling in March, in 2022 we started picking on the 19th of April, and finished on the 3rd of May. Ultimately, we harvested the most beautiful riesling we have seen – clean as a whistle, beautifully ripe and with scintillating acidity.”
The 2022 Colmar ‘Reserve’ Riesling is made from 23-year-old, GM198 clone vines. “The quality of the grapes gave us the opportunity to challenge our winemaking. A component of early-picked fruit received extended skin contact, with some skins in the ferment. Another component was matured in seasoned French puncheons, with a later-picked parcel fermented in stainless steel.
“The winemaking was directed at building complexity and layers that would complement and not detract from the quality of the pristine fruit.”
The 2022 Colmar ‘Block 5’ Riesling is made from a single vineyard block. “Although our riesling blocks, both GM198 clone, only sit 100 metres apart, Block 5 produces riesling that is lighter and finer than its counterpart.” The fruit was hand harvested on the 25thof April and fermented cool in stainless steel to capture the seamless Orange fruit purity. The fermentation was arrested just prior to dryness.
The 2022 Colmar Riesling is a combination of three separate picks, with most of the blend fermented in stainless steel and a small parcel fermented with extended skin contact to add texture and complexity. The wine was made as a tightly focused, medium dry style with residual sugar of 12 grams per litre, balanced by the regional cool climate acidity.
“It is an exciting time in Orange for riesling,” says Bill. “In nine years we haven’t seen the quality of the 2022 vintage; wonderful aromas, strikingly beautiful flavours, great purity, and sizzling acidity. Taking inspiration from the best European riesling producers, we are exploring new styles with the objective of producing distinctive, regional wines.”
Pricing & distribution: The Colmar Estate wines are distributed in NSW, QLD, and ACT by L’Atelier, and in other states by Colmar Estate. They are also available direct from the winery via www.colmarestate.com.au
- 2022 Colmar Estate Reserve Riesling (Orange region) $55.00
- 2022 Colmar Estate ‘Block 5’ Riesling (Orange region) $45.00
- 2022 Colmar Estate Riesling (Orange region) $35.00
