Grosset Polish Hill Riesling 2004
The 2004 Grosset Polish Hill is comparable in quality terms with the two most recent vintages of the wine although it resembles the 2003 in profile more than the 2002. Characteristically closed at present yet with hints of lime zest and savoury minerally aromas, it is intensely flavoured with pristine, freshly squeezed lime juice flavours before a long, distinctively lingering, dry finish. The 2004 Polish Hill has that characteristic lean, steely, tight structure, immense power, weight and persistence which suggests that it is built for the long haul.
Reviews
James Halliday Top 100 ‘The Weekend Australian’ 20 November 2004
Often slower to open up than is Watervale counterpart, this year the roles seem to be reversed, but without compromising the cellaring potential of this wine. Potent lime and apple blossom aromas flow through into the palate, where flecks of herb and slate add to the complexity of the long finish. 96 Points
Philip Rich ‘The Australian Financial Review Magazine’  26 November 2005
…While both the Gaia Cabernet 2002 – this is close to the best Grosset Cabernet yet and is well worth tracking down – and Watervale Riesling could have made my Top 20, it is the Polish Hill Riesling which really blew me away this year. This intense, focused, minerally and dry wine has wonderful purity of fruit as well as its trademark structure and backbone, ensuring that it will still be looking fresh in another ten years’ time.
S. Irene Virbila ‘Los Angeles Times’ 4 May 2005
… the 2004 Grosset Polish Hill has a wonderful steely character and a haunting scent of limes and slate. This is an Australian riesling that rivals the best from Germany and Alsace … Given the extraordinary quality it’s a bargain.
Ralph Kyte-Powell ‘The Age’ Uncorked 14 September 2004Â
Indulge yourself. Australia ‘s best riesling? There’s lots of competition for the title, but Jeff Grosset’s Clare Valley wine has to be a contender. The ’04 is still a pup, slightly gassy, green-tinged and intense with lots of aromatic interest in the floral and spicy direction. The rich, round palate has superb integration of acidity and full body, with a clean, long, fine aftertaste. 
Jeremy Oliver  www.onwine.com.au September 2004
A restrained fragrance of mineral, wet stones and fresh flowers overlies a leesy, citrusy perfume that becomes more intense with time in the glass. Supple and silky, it’s smooth and brightly flavoured, before finishing taut and steely. Slightly riper than usual, its long palate of pristine but slightly candied fruit is punctuated by a clean, bracing cut of austere, but racy acidity.
Campbell Mattinson  ‘Winefront Monthly’  August 2004
Long, lean, crushingly austere palate. Trails into fennel-like whispers. Steel and lemon. Pale straw-green, but a touch more colour than you might expect from a wine so young – it has a smell of richness too. Has a drying, almost grippy finish. After an hour or so in the glass it drinks well – this can be consumed now. 91 points
Robert Parker’s ‘The Wine Advocate USA’ Issue 161 31 October 2005
The 2004 Dry Riesling Polish Hill is even better. Striking minerality is accompanied by a stony, lemon zest and ripe melon character. In it’s long, dry, intense personality. Consume it over the next 3-4 years. By the way a fabulous 1998 Dry Riesling Polish Hill tasted recently was totally intact, so perhaps my short-term drinking recommendations on these wines are too conservative.
James A. Rayyis ‘Wine Guide’ (USA) 2006
One of Australia ‘s iconic wines, Grosset Polish Hill plays a powerful baked apple, orange and deep mineral flavours off strong acidity. It’s one of the worlds great dry Rieslings. Drink now – 20years.
Bruce Sanderson ‘Wine Spectator’ The New World – Australia – Riesling (USA) 15 December 2005
Soils in Grosset’s Clare Valley vineyards range from red loam over limestone in Watervale to clay, slate and shale in Polish Hill. Both sites are well-drained. The clay in Watervale gives that bottling more generosity, with lime and citrus flavours.
‘Recommended Producers and selected wines’
GROSSET: Jeffrey Grosset has built a sterling reputation for his pure, minerally Rieslings. Dry. 92 points
