The Boneline
Hell Block Riesling 2024 750ml

2024 HellBlock

Riesling

Sliver lime – red delicious – lime bloosm - tangerine – beeswax - electric

Vintage

In the lead-up to the 2023/24 growing season, there was much discussion about the shift in weather patterns from the La Niña conditions that had dominated the previous few vintages to the anticipated hot, dry El Niño. In reality, the transition proved gradual.

Several frost events between mid-September and the end of October required careful management, and the cool temperatures combined with wet spring weather had a significant impact on flowering—particularly among early-ripening varieties—resulting in lower-than-average yields.

The major shift in weather arrived in mid-December, when North Canterbury entered a classic long, hot, and dry summer, reminiscent of the 2020 vintage. This was followed by a cooler but equally dry autumn, allowing an extended hang time that encouraged the development of beautifully concentrated flavours, ripe phenolics, and fine natural balance.

Vinification

Our estate-grown grapes are hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed gently over several hours to extract pure, delicate juice. The must is settled overnight, then racked off the gross solids, retaining only the fluffy lees to preserve freshness and finesse.

Fermentation proceeds slowly at low temperatures, allowing flavour and texture to build naturally. It is stopped when the sugar, acid, alcohol, and phenolics reach perfect harmony. The wine is then held at a cool temperature to retain a fine natural CO₂ spritz from primary fermentation, enhancing vibrancy and lift.

Following fermentation, the wine is racked and aged on fine lees for six months before bottling, developing subtle texture and length while maintaining its bright, energetic character.

Wine

  Brilliant pale green-gold with flashes of silver in the glass.

 The nose is finely detailed, opening with apple blossom, honeysuckle, and mandarin zest, underpinned by a subtle mineral edge that speaks to its limestone-rich gravels.

The palate is vibrant and layered, showing flavours of lime oil, ripe red apple, fleshy stone fruit, and tangerine peel. A bright line of acidity drives freshness, beautifully balanced by a touch of generous fruit sweetness. The interplay of these two elements is accentuated by a gentle natural spritz retained from fermentation, adding lift and energy through the mid-palate.

The finish is long and persistent, leaving a crisp, cleansing texture and a lingering echo of citrus and minerality. This is a Riesling of tension, precision, and purity — a vibrant expression of its vineyard and season.

Tech

Parcel 1:       Picked 10/04/24               pH: 2.96       TA: 9.18       Brix: 21.4

Parcel 2:       Picked 14/04/24               pH: 3.05       TA: 8.00       Brix: 21.4

Final Wine:  Bottled 27/02/25              pH: 2.82       TA: 7.87       Alc: 11.0%     RS 26.8g/L