2024 Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling 375ml

One of Australia's most iconic and celebrated dessert wines — rich golden and luminous, with honey, dried apricot and citrus marmalade intensity, extraordinary sweetness balanced by vibrant Clare Valley acidity and the pure, concentrated complexity that comes from Stephanie Toole's celebrated cordon cut technique — a winemaking method of extraordinary elegance and distinctly Australian character.

Cordon Cut — the technique that made Mount Horrocks famous. The canes are partially severed while the grapes are still on the vine, stopping the flow of water and nutrients and concentrating the sugars naturally — without botrytis, without late harvest, without intervention. Pure, concentrated sweetness and vibrant acidity in perfect harmony. From Stephanie Toole — one of Australia's most respected and pioneering female winemakers. 95 points and outstanding value at $42 for 375ml.

95 Points – Halliday Wine Companion

Clare Valley, SA

$42 • 375ml
Cordon Cut • Riesling • Mount Horrocks • Clare Valley

"Cordon Cut — the technique that made Mount Horrocks famous. The canes are partially severed on the vine, concentrating sugars naturally without botrytis or late harvest. Pure, concentrated sweetness and vibrant Clare Valley acidity in perfect harmony."

The Cordon Cut Method

The cordon cut is Stephanie Toole's signature winemaking technique — and one of the most distinctive and celebrated dessert wine methods in Australia. While the grapes are still on the vine, the canes are partially severed, cutting off the flow of water and nutrients. The grapes remain on the vine, slowly desiccating and concentrating their sugars naturally — without botrytis, without late harvest picking, without any external intervention. The result is a dessert wine of extraordinary purity, concentrated sweetness and vibrant acidity — a style that is uniquely and distinctly Australian.

Tasting Notes

Appearance:
Rich golden with brilliant clarity — luminous, concentrated and inviting.

Aroma:
Intensely concentrated and complex with:

• honey and dried apricot — pure and concentrated
• citrus marmalade and orange peel
• ginger and spice
• fine mineral undertones and the Clare Valley precision that defines great Cordon Cut Riesling

Clare Valley Cordon Cut Riesling of world-class aromatic intensity — the concentrated sweetness and vibrant acidity of the cordon cut technique delivering a dessert wine of extraordinary purity, complexity and Clare Valley mineral precision.

Palate:
Medium to full-bodied with luscious sweetness balanced by vibrant acidity.
Expect layers of:

• honey, dried apricot and candied citrus
• orange peel and citrus marmalade
• ginger, spice and subtle mineral complexity
• luscious sweetness balanced by vibrant Clare Valley acidity
• extraordinary length and persistence

The wine delivers concentrated sweetness with vibrant acidity, combining Stephanie Toole's celebrated cordon cut technique with the Clare Valley's extraordinary cool-climate terroir and the mineral precision that defines great Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling.

Finish:
Long and satisfying with lingering honey, dried apricot, citrus marmalade and the extraordinary Clare Valley mineral precision that defines great Cordon Cut Riesling.

Critical Acclaim

95pts – Halliday Wine Companion

About Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut

Mount Horrocks is one of the Clare Valley's most celebrated and respected boutique producers, founded by Stephanie Toole — one of Australia's most respected and pioneering female winemakers. The Cordon Cut Riesling is Stephanie Toole's signature wine and one of Australia's most iconic and celebrated dessert wine expressions — a wine of extraordinary purity, concentrated sweetness and vibrant acidity that has earned Mount Horrocks its place among Australia's most celebrated boutique wineries. The cordon cut technique — partially severing the canes while the grapes are still on the vine — is a distinctly Australian approach to dessert winemaking, producing a style of extraordinary elegance and purity that is quite unlike botrytis or late harvest expressions.

It represents:

• one of Australia's most iconic and celebrated dessert wines — 95-point Cordon Cut Riesling from one of the Clare Valley's most respected boutique producers
• Stephanie Toole's signature technique — the cordon cut method that made Mount Horrocks famous, producing dessert wine of extraordinary purity and concentrated sweetness
• outstanding value for a 95-point, iconic Australian dessert wine at $42 for 375ml

Wine Details

• Vintage: 2024
• Variety: Riesling
• Style: Cordon Cut — naturally concentrated dessert wine
• Format: 375ml
• Region: Clare Valley, SA
• Producer: Mount Horrocks
• Winemaker: Stephanie Toole
• Serving Temperature: 8–10°C
• Cellaring: Drink now – 2040 (will develop extraordinary complexity with age)

Food Pairings

• Fresh fruit tarts and stone fruit desserts
• Crème brûlée and custard desserts
• Blue cheese — Roquefort or Gorgonzola
• Foie gras
• Almond and honey pastries
• As a luxurious after-dinner treat on its own

Why We Love It

This is one of Australia's most iconic and celebrated dessert wines — Stephanie Toole's signature Cordon Cut technique delivering concentrated sweetness and vibrant Clare Valley acidity in perfect harmony.
At $42 for 375ml, it delivers 95-point Halliday quality and a dessert wine experience that is genuinely unlike anything else in the Australian market.

An essential acquisition for lovers of great Australian dessert wine and the finest Clare Valley expressions.