Riesling is so varied it can be difficult to tell what style you will find in the bottle unless there's a guide on the back. This tasting revealed dry, austere styles, sweeter ones, full-bodied ones, delicate ones and lush, rich ones with a dry finish.
BEST VALUE
$23
Four stars (out of five)
Good Value
At two years old this is complex and mouth-filling with hints of lime, mandarin and mineral and a crisp, lingering finish with a suggestion of marmalade. Drinking nicely now.
$25
Three and a half stars
Average Value
With hints of mineral, lemongrass, lime and tangerine, this is a sweeter style of wine but it has a crisp, dry finish, suggesting lime marmalade.
$22
Three and a half stars
Average Value
Oozing exotic aromas hinting of roses, lychees and tangelo, this is a ripe, medium-sweet style of wine with a suggestion of nuts and a rich, oily finish.
$23
Three and a half stars
Average Value
Perfumed with roses, ginger flowers and lychees, this is lush and mouth-filling with an attractive sweet tropical-fruitiness and a powerful finish.
$23
Three and a half stars
Average Value
Hinting of lemongrass and mineral, this initially appears austere and stylishly dry with a tight crispness, but after being open a day its charms began to show with lovely fruit intensity and nice balance. Well worth cellaring for a year or two.
$29
Four stars
Average Value
Almost golden in colour, this oozes hints of honey and apricot from botrytis-affected fruit which gives richness to the lovely citrus, nectarine and orange marmalade nuances, all supported by a firm backbone of acidity and a crisp, dry finish.
ANOTHER GLASS
Tohu Marlborough Riesling 2013
$22
three stars
Below average value
A dry, unforgiving wine with steely hints of lime, lemon and mineral and an austere finish. Try it with cheese to soften the spartan finish.
