For over 140 years, Best’s has continuously been producing wine in the Great Western wine region of Victoria. They are one of Australia’s oldest continuously family owned and operated wineries and have some of the oldest vines in Australia, producing extraordinary wines with great longevity. Their flagship wine, Thomson Family Shiraz has been recognised as ‘Outstanding’ by Australia’s leading wine auction house Langton’s.
Only two families have owned Best’s since it was founded: Wines were first made by the Best family in 1866 and then the Thomson family bought it from the Best Family in 1920. The fifth generation of Thomson is now running the winery. They strive to make great wines with a strong sense of history and place.
Best’s Great Western ‘House Block’ Riesling
The Riesling fruit flavours were so good in 2010, that Best’s picked slightly earlier than usual and separated an amazing parcel of fruit from their House Block in the winery in order to produce a different style of Riesling with a more Germanic tasting profile (often called Kabinett style). The 2010 House Block Riesling has a different flavour profile to their Great Western Riesling, but still retains the nice acid structure.
Best’s Great Western Riesling
A real insider’s wine, Great Western produces flavoursome, elegantly structured, spectacularly age-worthy Rieslings which stand confidently alongside their more famous South Australian cousins. The Great Western region lends itself well to producing exceptional Riesling – diurnal weather patterns work well for the varietal. Some of the original nursery plantings can be traced back to Germany so there is great history and pedigree in the root stock of Great Western Riesling.
Grown on the sandy loams of the Concongella Creek and the Rhymney Vineyard sites, and occasionally from selected local vineyards, the Great Western Riesling shows the power and finesse which speak of this region. The wine is made to show good flavour characteristics, letting the pristine fruit speak for itself. It is cold fermented in stainless steel tanks and made to drink now, although it will definitely age for some time to come. Best’s Great Western Rieslings from the 1970’s are drinking superbly now.
you can find them at www.bestswines.com
and on twitter @bestswines
