Pooley Riesling Cane Cut Butcher's Hill / 2025 / 375mL

Description:

The Pooley Butcher's Hill Cane Cut Riesling 2025 is a luscious but finely strung dessert Riesling from the Butcher's Hill vineyard at Richmond, in Tasmania's Coal River Valley. In a 375mL bottle, it carries real sweetness — 142 grams per litre of residual sugar — held in check by the cool-climate acidity that keeps Coal River Riesling honest.

Canes were cut in late March and the fruit left hanging until 16 May, picked by hand at 16.5 baume, and the aromatics show that slow concentration: jasmine and citrus blossom first, then caramelised apricot, candied lime peel and a waft of honey. The palate follows with poached quince, orange marmalade and a toasted almond edge from five months on lees.

Three press cycles and time back on skins have given the 2025 more texture than most sweet Rieslings manage, yet at 11 per cent alcohol it stays light on its feet. Acidity cuts straight through the sugar and the finish dries out with lime pith rather than lingering syrup.

Serve well chilled with crème brûlée, a citrus tart, poached stone fruit, or a wedge of blue cheese at the end of a long lunch. A half bottle suits two people at dessert without anyone feeling obliged to finish a full 750mL the next day.

Drinking beautifully now and worth holding through to 2033, bearing in mind a 375mL bottle will develop faster than the same wine in a larger format.