2023 Loosen Barry Slate Hill Riesling

Slate Hill is the latest spin from the Loosen Barry crew – born out of a 30-year friendship between Mosel’s Ernst Loosen and the Barry family in Clare. After years of making Wolta Wolta together, they decided to add a second wine to the mix, something a little easier to approach but still carrying that same attention to detail.

The fruit comes off the Wolta Wolta property, picked late in the season for extra flavour and ripeness. Fermentation was left to run wild in stainless steel, then cooled down to keep a touch of natural sweetness in the wine. From there it rested on lees in tank for two years – no stirring, no oak, just patience.

What you get is a Riesling that’s bright and juicy, with citrus and stone fruit at the core and a chalky, mineral finish. There’s a little softness from the residual sugar, but it still feels crisp and clean, built for drinking young but with enough interest to keep you coming back.

95 points
"The result is an exhilarating, textural expression with juicy, plush texture, a light chalky grip, a subtle nutty-savoury undertow and a flourish of steel. Bright citrus fruit is meshed to gentle, just-ripe stone fruit and gingery-pineapple piquancy. Energetic, with exceptional length, great depth of flavour and a general pizzazz. A winner."
- Mike Bennie (Halliday Wine Companion)