Vickery Castine Hayshed Block Watervale Riesling 2020

According to Jeffrey Grosset, himself a legendary Riesling producer, John Vickery is in the same league as Max Schubert, the creator and initial maker of Penfolds Grange. Vickery has made Riesling since 1951, and even before refrigerated fermentation was possible, worked to ensure careful handling of fruit which was processed at as low a temp as possible to maximize natural fruit retention. He has picked up more than 50 trophies and 400 gold medals along with many personal accolades. He was also instrumental in the mainstream introduction of screwcaps for Rieslings produced from the 98 vintage. There was a great deal of market resistance at the time, given the perception of cork being superior and Screwcap being the ‘cheap’ option. Regardless, the Clare Valley Riesling producers got behind him and less than 20 years later screwcap is the norm. In 2007 he was awarded Order of Australia for services to the wine industry especially via the development of innovations in the production of Riesling.