2024 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. Situated on high-altitude granitic soils, the 4-hectare vineyard is certified organic. Now managed with Rick's son Nathan, Giaconda are famous for excellent winemaking, while ageing in their granite cave deliver wines of extraordinary purity, complexity, and finesse.

Other Reviews...
The 2024 Estate Vineyard Roussanne leads with white pepper and fennel, pineapple, star Jasmine and green apple, all accompanied by the classic Giaconda reductio, too. In the mouth, the wine is concentrated and rich, yet stops short of being viscose or oily, such is the cut-through of saline acidity. This is routinely one of the most impressive Roussannes in Australia, showing depth, complexity and savory complexity alongside length and phenolic width. It's very good, and the 2024 shows a little more structural integrity than the vintages I have tasted prior. It's an excellent wine that comes warmly recommended. 13.8% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2026-2034.
96 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2024 Roussanne Estate Vineyard is beautifully composed, offering up a powerful yet refined blend of cantaloupe, brown pear, musk and earthy tones enforced by marked yet balanced French oak. Densely packed flavours remain light on their feet thanks to creamy acidity, and while the oak feels a little heavy right now, it is sure to hit its mark with more years in bottle. The key to this wine is restrained power, holding through to a strong, sustained finish of outstanding length. Drink 2030-2038.
96 points
Angus Hughson - Vinous

The wine tastes and smells yellow, though don’t mind me as I’m something of a synaesthete. Aside that, dried mango, gingerbread, aniseed, chamomile, peanut shells, apple and alpine herbs, with a wisp of smokiness. It’s fleshy, waxy and viscous, but has a fine cut of acidity to balance, spicy with a fine chalky grip, ripe lime and pink grapefruit, a peanut richness, with a well-rounded yet fresh finish of terrific length and subtle citrus rind bitterness, which tweaks it so nicely. I was internally (now not so internal, but hey!), tossing up between 95 and 96 points, and landed on the latter score. It’s a benchmark for the variety. This is a beautiful wine. Drink 2026-2034+.
96 points
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

Giaconda's decision to champion roussanne now sees interest in the grape increasing by the second. One taste and the excitement is justified, revealing hidden depths. Aromas offer a complex set of rich scents in peach, citrus, quince, baked apple and pear with the liveliness of woody spices, chamomile and savoury, nutty almond skin. The pulse quickens on the palate with phenolic drive and grip and a seamless journey into a warm roussanne embrace of texture and flavour edged by a gingery herbal note. Runs super smooth and long. Each vintage release ups the ante, showing clearly just what the Rhône Valley grape variety is capable of in its new home. Drink 2026-2038.
96 points
Jeni Port - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion