2023 Prophet’s Rock Dry Riesling | Central Otago | 95 Points

🏆 95 Points | One of Central Otago's Benchmark Rieslings

From Prophet's Rock – One of New Zealand's Most Exciting Fine-Wine Producers

95 Points – The Real Review | Previous Vintage – 96 Points Halliday Wine Companion

Central Otago, New Zealand

95 Points – The Real Review

2022 Vintage – 96 Points Halliday Wine Companion

RRP $60

When most people think about Central Otago, they immediately think:

PINOT NOIR.

But some of the region's most exciting wines are coming from another variety.

Riesling.

And Prophet's Rock makes one of the best.

The 2023 Prophet's Rock Riesling comes from the dramatic Rocky Point Vineyard in Bendigo, overlooking Lake Dunstan.

Steep slopes.

Rocky soils.

Cool nights.

Hand-picked fruit.

And one of New Zealand's most talented winemaking teams.

The result?

95 POINTS – THE REAL REVIEW

And this isn't a one-off.

The previous 2022 vintage received 96 points from Halliday Wine Companion.

That's a serious track record.

Tasting Notes

This is Riesling with purity, texture and extraordinary energy.

Expect:

• Lime and lime zest

• Lemon blossom

• Green apple

• White peach

• Mandarin

• Jasmine and white flowers

• Wet stone

• Crushed rock

• Subtle spice

• Saline minerality

There's beautiful citrus intensity through the palate, but this isn't simply a razor-sharp, one-dimensional Riesling.

There's texture.

There's depth.

There's a lovely generosity through the middle.

And underneath everything runs that brilliant line of Riesling acidity.

Citrus.

Flowers.

Stone.

Minerality.

Tension.

The finish is long, precise and beautifully refreshing.

Seriously classy Riesling.

95 Points – The Real Review

The 2023 has already received:

95 POINTS – THE REAL REVIEW

That's an outstanding result.

And it reinforces something we've been seeing for some time:

Prophet's Rock isn't simply a great Central Otago Pinot Noir producer.

The white wines deserve every bit as much attention.

This is Riesling with genuine fine-wine ambition.

And Look at the Previous Vintage

Whenever we're assessing a wine, we don't simply look at one score.

We look at the track record.

And the 2022 Prophet's Rock Riesling received:

96 POINTS – HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION

So across two consecutive vintages you have:

2022 – 96 Points Halliday

2023 – 95 Points The Real Review

That consistency tells you plenty.

This is serious Riesling.

Rocky Point Vineyard

The Riesling comes from Prophet's Rock's Rocky Point Vineyard in Bendigo, Central Otago.

And it's a spectacular site.

The vineyard sits on steep slopes above the waters of Lake Dunstan, in a landscape that looks almost purpose-built for dramatic cool-climate wine.

The soils are rocky.

The site is exposed.

The climate is continental.

Warm days help build flavour.

Cold nights help preserve acidity.

And Riesling loves it.

The result is fruit with both:

Intensity and freshness.

Exactly the combination required for great Riesling.

The Winemaking

The approach at Prophet's Rock is beautifully considered.

The fruit is:

Hand picked

then:

Whole-bunch pressed

before undergoing a long, slow fermentation.

Importantly, the wine is fermented in old barrels rather than being treated simply as a straightforward stainless-steel Riesling.

That contributes another dimension.

Not obvious oak flavour.

Texture.

Complexity.

Depth.

The result is a Riesling that combines brilliant varietal purity with a more layered, vinous personality.

This is the sort of Riesling that becomes even more interesting as it warms slightly in the glass.

About Prophet's Rock

Prophet's Rock has become one of the standout fine-wine producers of Central Otago.

The estate was established in the late 1990s, with vineyards planted in some of the region's most dramatic landscapes.

But one of the key figures in the story is winemaker:

PAUL PUJOL.

Pujol's experience extends well beyond New Zealand.

His international winemaking background included time in France, giving him a perspective that combines Old World technique with the extraordinary fruit available in Central Otago.

The philosophy is deliberately restrained.

Rather than forcing the wines into a particular style, the emphasis is on:

Site.

Texture.

Balance.

Precision.

Longevity.

It's one of the reasons Prophet's Rock has developed such a strong following among serious wine drinkers.

Central Otago Isn't Just Pinot Noir

This is one of the things we love about this wine.

Central Otago has built an international reputation around Pinot Noir.

And deservedly so.

But the same conditions that make the region so interesting for Pinot can also produce outstanding Riesling.

High altitude.

Intense sunlight.

Cool nights.

Long growing seasons.

Rocky soils.

All of those things can help Riesling develop flavour while retaining the acidity that makes the variety so compelling.

And Prophet's Rock demonstrates just how serious Central Otago Riesling can be.

Food Pairings

Riesling is one of the greatest food wines on earth.

Try this with:

• Fresh oysters

• Sashimi

• Kingfish crudo

• Grilled prawns

• Salt and pepper squid

• Thai seafood salad

• Pork belly

• Roast pork

• Vietnamese cuisine

• Spicy Asian dishes

• Soft cheeses

Or simply:

A warm afternoon and a big glass.

That works too.

Cellaring

Great Riesling can age brilliantly.

And this has the acidity, concentration and structure to evolve beautifully.

Drink now through 2035+.

Young, expect:

Lime

Citrus

White flowers

Green apple

Stone fruit

Minerality

With age, Riesling can develop more complex characters of:

Honey

Toast

Dried citrus

Spice

Chamomile

while retaining that wonderful acid backbone.

Buy some for now.

And definitely put a few away.

Why We Love It

Because this is another reminder that you should never pigeonhole a great wine region.

Central Otago isn't simply Pinot Noir.

And Prophet's Rock isn't simply a Pinot Noir producer.

Look at what you're getting:

2023 PROPHET'S ROCK RIESLING

Central Otago, New Zealand

95 POINTS – THE REAL REVIEW

Previous vintage:

96 POINTS – HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION

From the dramatic Rocky Point Vineyard.

Hand picked.

Whole-bunch pressed.

Long, slow fermentation.

Made by one of Central Otago's most respected producers.

And:

RRP $60

If you love serious Riesling from Germany, Austria, Clare Valley or Eden Valley, this is absolutely worth putting alongside them.

Pure. Mineral. Textural. Precise.

A SERIOUS CENTRAL OTAGO RIESLING.

👉 Don't make the mistake of thinking Central Otago is only about Pinot Noir. The 2023 Prophet's Rock Riesling is a brilliant example of just how exciting the region's white wines can be.