Wine review: Riesling

A good riesling is harmonious: it may be dry or sweet or anything in between and it should have a crisp, acidic finish, but if it's harmonious it won't seesaw between sweetness and mouth- puckering acidity. The two opposites will be happily intertwined and the wine will be exciting.

 

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BEST VALUE

Hawkshead Central Otago Riesling 2009
$22

This fragrant, mouthfilling wine is from Bendigo fruit. It combines zesty hints of lime and ripe tropical fruit with a suggestion of buttered toast and a steely crisp acidity and a exciting, tingly finish. Good with food

www.hawksheadwine.com

good value

4 stars (out of 5)

 

 

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BEST VALUE

Waimea Edel 2009
$22

A fragrant blend of 47% riesling, 38% pinot gris and 15% gewurztraminer (known as edelzwicker in Alsace, France), this Nelson wine is rich and mouthfilling, with the gewurztraminer dominating, despite its small proportion. Medium sweet with hints of roses and an attractive, crisp finish.

www.waimeaestates.co.nz

good value

4 stars

 

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Mt Difficulty Target Gully Riesling 2009
$25

One of Mt Difficulty's superb rieslings, this is low alcohol (9%) and medium sweet, but with such wonderful suggestions of lime and tropical fruit and an exciting, zingy, dancing acidity on the finish. Delicious.

www.mtdifficulty.co.nz

good value

4 stars

 

 

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Two Paddocks Picnic Central Otago Riesling 2009
$21

Lime, lemon and a shaft of steely schist characterise this crisp, lively wine. Cool in a creek and enjoy in the sun with a bacon and egg pie.

www.twopaddocks.co.nz

average value

3 stars

 

 

 

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Saint Clair Pioneer Block 9 Big John Riesling 2008
$23

A zingy, zesty wine with sweet, mouthfilling, late-harvest fruit and searing lime and lemon intensity on the crisp, dryish finish. Good with food.

www.saintclair.co.nz

good value

4 stars

 

 

 

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Muddy Water Waipara Riesling unplugged 2008
$29

Suggestions of dried apricot, honey, marmalade and hokey-pokey toffee give this late harvest wine complexity and a luscious richness and concentration, and the clean, refreshing finish contributes to the intensity and liveliness.

www.muddywater.co.nz

average value

4 stars

 

 

 

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ANOTHER GLASS

 

Pasquale Hakataramea Alma Mater 2009
$27

A blend of riesling, pinot gris and gewurztraminer, this is off-dry and restrained, with a hint of apple, a satisfying mouthfeel, a long, linear structure and an elegant, dry finish.

www.pasquale.co.nz

below average value

3 stars

 

 

 

 

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Spy Valley Envoy Riesling 2008
$29

A nervous wine, zingy with hints of zesty lime, light in the mouth but still intense, with fruit sweetness and a lovely, dry finish.

www.spyvalley.co.nz

average value

4 stars

 

 

 

 

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Mt Difficulty Long Gully Late Harvest Riesling 2009
$35

Purity of fruit with hints of botrytis - thyme honey and apricot - enlivened by zingy lime and grapefruit intensity, but with luscious sweetness and a balancing crisp, steely acidity on he finish, make this is a delicious wine.

www.mtdifficulty.co.nz

average value

4 stars (out of 5)

 

 

 

 

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Greystone Waipara Riesling 2009
$24

Fragrant with a zesty hint of lime, fruit sweetness and a nicely balanced, crisp, zingy finish.

www.greystonewines.co.nz

below average value

3 stars

 

 

 

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Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate preconceptions, all wine tasting and evaluation is subjective. These are personal recommendations. charmian.smith@odt.co.nz

Two stars - simple, clean, enjoyable wine; three stars - good wine with varietal characteristics; four stars - very good wine with some outstanding characteristics; five stars - outstanding wine with balance and harmony that leaves you with a sense of wonder.