Mesh is a collaboration between winemaker Robert Hill-Smith, of Yalumba, and Jeffrey Grosset, of Grosset Wines. Their plan, to create a Riesling using fruit sourced in two Eden Valley vineyards. At an altitude of 425 metres, Grossman, planted in 1944, comprises of 7.75 acres and imparts intense lime flavours and a palate rich with minerals; Miles, planted in 1982, comprising 6 acres, adds ripe stone and tropical fruit flavours and upfront flavours. As the Eden Valley is higher and colder than the nearby Barossa Valley, ripening is slower, with breezes helping to ensure maximum flavour development by cooling the fruit as it grows. The winemakers’ passion and high quality of Riesling has helped to elevate the status of Eden Valley’s production. The parcels of wine are selectively hand-picked and sorted into different-coloured buckets and then crushed at separate locations. Each portion is then fermented slightly differently by the winemakers, resulting in wines with subtle variations. The finished wines are then jointly assessed, ‘amid lively debate’, in order to reach a consensus on the final blend. Robert and Jeffrey agreed on the name ‘Mesh’, representing partnership, and the belief that it has enabled the delivery of greater quality wines through shared experiential knowledge.
Unlike many wineries that release dozens of wines, ‘Mesh’ only has one. The ‘Mesh Riesling’ has been described as having a pale green colour when young, with pronounced lime and lemon aromas and flavours of lime, citrus, orange rind and green apple, and a mineral-infused finish. Despite the high ratings that the vintages have achieved, the Mesh is still low priced, delivering tremendous value.
For more information on Mesh and their wines, check out their website.