2016 Foxes Island Dry Riesling – Awatere Valley Marlborough (Library Release)

94 Points – Cameron Douglas Master Sommelier

“Riesling is one of the great white wines of the world that rewards those with patience and continually challenges and inspires me as a winemaker.” — John Belsham

The 2016 Dry Riesling is a pristine expression of one of the world’s most noble white grape varieties. Produced in limited quantity and held back as a library release, this vintage represents the purity, tension, and long-term ageability that define world-class dry Riesling. For collectors, a handful of older vintages are also available—offering a rare opportunity to build a vertical or curate a complete Riesling collection from the Awatere Valley estate.

The Riesling vines grow in a stony, bowl-shaped terrace at the lowest point of the Belsham Awatere Estate, nestled close to the river’s edge. This unique position, with its ancient, free-draining soils and cool valley influence, produces Riesling of exceptional clarity, focus, and mineral drive. The style is deliberately pure, restrained, and site-expressive, capturing the essence of the grape and the distinctive Awatere Valley terroir.

In the winery, the juice was protected throughout fermentation to preserve delicate aromatics and structural integrity. The resulting wine is vibrant, finely textured, and built for longevity. The 2016 vintage reveals aromas of citrus blossom and ripe nectarine, with flavours of white peach, lime, wet stone, and a subtle hint of fennel and salinity. Bright acidity and focused length create a wine of extraordinary versatility and precision.

Dry Riesling is one of the most age-worthy wine styles in the world, and this vintage is no exception—enjoy on release or cellar confidently for 20 years or more.

Extremely limited library release.