2025 'Albert's' Vermentino

Back in 2009 Anthony Koerner was researching Mediterranean grape varieties that could potentially grow well in the Clare Valley climate, he concluded that Vermentino was the one he was going to plant. Vermentino has proven to grow very well in Clare, it is resilient, doesn’t need much water, it crops well, all while producing incredible layers of flavour. Anthony’s nick name is Albert and this is where the name of this wine comes from.

The vintage was warm and dry, which lent itself to creating great flavour in the Vermentino grapes! As a Mediterranean variety it is proven to work well in dry climates, this wine shows exactly whats great about Vermentino - salty, stone-fruits and fresh!

Wow the aromatics jump from the glass and real you in, dried peaches and apricot, a touch of spice and honey suckle create such a complex, pretty and fresh nose! On the pallet the stone fruits shine, peach in particular. It has beautiful texture, the limestone minerality is explosive and then it all winds up with incredible Vermentino salinity, which leaves you salivating for more!!

Vineyard: Gullyview Vineyard, Watervale
Varieties: 100% Vermentino
Blocks: G2
Planted: 2009
Soil type: Terra Rossa, red clay on limestone
Picking date: February 12th, 2025
Picking method: Machine Harvested
Time on skins: 6 hours on skins
Processing: Crush and destemmed
Pressing: Take free run juice only
Cooling / settling: Cold settled off dirt and heavy solids for 4 days
Fermentation: Mix of seasoned French oak and stainless steel for 2 weeks, the wine completed full malo lactic fermentation after this.
Aging vessel: A mix of stainless steel and old french oak for 3 months and then blended into stainless steel where it sits for 6 months on fine lees.
Filtration: Crossflow
Fining: No
Alc: 10.7%
Vegan friendly - Yes

2025 'Albert's' Vermentino - 93 Points

A nervy, scintillating expression of vermentino. There's a crushed quartz, fractured slate thread that unites both texture, fruit and acid. White peach, underripe pear; it's zesty, saline and long, with tendrils of brine, oyster shell and musk. Watch the bottle disappear.

Katrina Butler - Halliday Companion

2025 'Albert's' Vermentino - 91 Points

A wine that conjures chamomile and sunflowers open wide in the sun. This has some yellow plum and pineapple skin. A creamy mid palate of polenta and cashew, a hint of olive brine and a nicely oily palate. Acidity carries well with the spread of tree, citrus and subtle tropical fruits. This screams to me, sip me with a buffet of seafood, scallops, fried school prawns and snapper fillets. It's a wine that almost any white wine drinker can enjoy. A real crowd pleaser.

Shanteh Wale - Wine Pilot

2025 'Albert's' Vermentino - 90 Points

This works good mojo for the variety. Or you could parlay it as medium weight, textural, saline white wine. Slate and flint overlaid on green apple with lime squeezed on it, dashes of alpine herb, a few slivers of pickled ginger. A little diffuse in character, but who’s asking, it’s a fresh, summery white of crispness and high refreshment factor overall.

Mike Bennie - Wine Front