2023 Giaconda Estate Vineyard Roussanne

Established in 1982 by Rick Kinzbrunner after experience in Napa, Bordeaux, and the King Valley, Giaconda has become one of Australia’s most celebrated boutique estates. The 4-hectare vineyard, now managed with his son Nathan, is certified organic and focused on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, and Nebbiolo. High-altitude granitic soils, excellent winemaking, and ageing in a granite cave deliver wines of extraordinary purity, complexity, and finesse. A new site dedicated to Roussanne on the Giaconda amphitheatre block enhances the wine's minerality with intense, exotic fruit flavors. Expect a rich mouthfeel combined with a refreshing acidity and wet stone character.
Alc. 13.8%

Other Reviews....
A grape transformed, roussanne sets its own course deep into serious wine territory under the guidance of Rick and Nathan Kinzbrunner. The fuller-bodied variety requires full ripeness and it gets it, eliciting scents embracing the floral and the rich in apricot, yellow peach, citrus, baked pear and spice with a whisper of green almond. Complexity ensues on a palate that is texturally inviting, like crushed velvet on the tongue. Roussanne brings base notes in beeswax, canelé, apple and Asian pear lifted by higher-pitched florals, including the herbal with a lingering savoury, waxy note. Moves with ease against a backbone of fresh-cut acid with a hint of tannic grip. Magical. Drink 2025-2037.
96 Points
Jeni Port - Halliday's Australian Wine Companion

Expressive and singular with aromas of yellow apples, apricots and orange blossoms as well as beeswax, pear tarte tatin and ginger. The medium-bodied palate has a textural mouthfeel and bright acidity with a phenolic grip. Tactile, terra-cotta finish. Complete and intriguing. So much generosity and power with an underlying freshness. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
96 Points
JamesSuckling.com

The 2023 Estate Vineyard Roussanne leads with white and yellow flowers, lanolin, churned butter and soft pear jalousie. In the mouth, the chalky phenolic shape pulls the fruit on course, and this is assisted by the splay of saline acidity through the middle palate and finish. While this has a tropical aroma about it, the palate tells a different story. A beautiful follow-on from last year's iteration, this is a little tighter and a little more focused. 13.8% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025 - 2035.
95 Points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

“Don’t drink it very cold, it shines when warm.” says Rick Kinzbrunner. The cool damp vintage has done this grape variety no harm at all, indeed, it may well have done it a good turn.
Complex and engaging, and specifically, I like the core of flint and bright acidity it offers, to counterbalance the richness and spice on offer here. I’m thinking green pear and apple, honey and floral perfume, a flicker of aniseed, ginger and fresh cut yellow nectarine, a subtle stuck match adds further interest. It’s juicy and flavoursome, but so well-balanced, a honeyed richness cut back by citrus acidity, and the finish is long, quite nutty and saline, with a tangerine tang to close. A righteous expression of Roussanne. Such energy and poise. Terrific. As an aside, if you can’t get your hands on the Chardonnay, this certainly gives you a flavour of the estate. Drink 2025 - 2033.
95 Points
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front