Crawford River 2016 'Beta' (Museum Release)

"Initially there are nuances of baked apples, melted wax, dried honey, and salt before the wines undergoes that marvellous oxygenation magic trick and freshens with air. Suddenly, we have a glass brimming with firm Bosc Pear, yellow apples (Gippsland Golds!), lemongrass, white pepper, candied lime peel, crushed citrus leaf; and hints of oyster shell and preserved peach. 

A silky entry segues to weighty fruit before - WHAM! - fresh, bracing acidity and chalky mineral inflected phenolics. Along the sneakily long close there is a wonderful interplay between the fresh and mineral, and the rich and toasty. The palate is centered on flavours of fresh green pear and lime curd, indeed there is a creamy generosity to the middle palate akin to curd! Accents of Makrut Lime leaf, pepper, citrus pith, and yellow apples add complexity. The final, lingering presence is of pure Williams Pear which seems to resonate long after all else fades away. A delight through and through. Fine." — David