Welcome to part two of my riesling double-header, where we explore some of the sweeter styles, although calling them "sweet" overlooks the intensity of flavour and marvellous sugar-acid counterpoint that is at their core. Last week I alluded to the uncertainty of placement of some of the wines as I tried to connect drier styles and sweeter styles in two tasting line-ups. I suspect this uncertainty is off-putting for some consumers, but you can approach this group expecting to see sweetness, but also with delightful balance and zest. 2023 Carrick Josephine Organic Bannockburn Riesling Price RRP $38 Rating Excellent Wisps of wild yeast, a line of apple and citrus, subtle but engaging. Bolder in the mouth, initially a little spritz perking up the supple acidity, a core of apple with honeyed richness, flowing nicely through the palate. Really kicks into gear with aeration, fleshing out on the palate adding spice nuances with increasing vibrancy all the while. Grows nicely in the glass. www.carrick.co.nz 2022 Main Divide North Canterbury Riesling Price RRP $21.99 Rating Very Good to Excellent A sense of volume, musk, honey, apricot, a mushroomy umami quality. A spritzy prickle joins forces with the acidity to give nice lift. The palate more medium-weight, a little chewy grip with a bittersweet element providing contrast. With time, the honeyed sweetness gathers momentum tinged with orange zest. Feels in a delightful place to enjoy now. www.maindivide.com 2022 Misha’s Vineyard Limelight Riesling Price RRP $34 Rating Excellent to Outstanding Beguiling perfume, florality, white flowers, musk, talc, apple, mandarin, each sniff a new adventure. Evident flavour intensity on the creamily textured palate, while an attractive apricot kernel bittersweet quality neatly balances the bush honey notes. Off-dry rather than sweet, just super balance and great complexity. Will likely improve further, but hard to resist now. www.mishasvineyard.com 2022 Pegasus Bay Aria Late Picked North Canterbury Riesling Price RRP $45 Rating Outstanding Swoon worthy nose, wood smoke, gunflint, musky botrytis, bush honey, mandarin, layers of aroma. Silky, super rich entry, while there’s lusciousness in spades there’s superb balance with a core of acidity keeping it fresh. Intensity of flavour, dances in the mouth, complexity, a long, long finish, the acidity cutting through the honeyed sweetness. Simply delicious. www.pegasusbay.com 2023 Riverby Estate Eliza Single Vineyard Marlborough Riesling Price RRP $27 Rating Excellent to Outstanding Bold, fragrant nose, red apple, apple skin, fruit cordial, bright, fresh, lovely purity, yeast notes later. Nicely creamy on the palate, green apple joined by fruit sherbet, honeyed aspects and creaming soda remaining attractively racy, flowing to a richly off-dry close. Great flavour depth and while this is already drinking superbly, I suspect there’s potential here too. www.riverbyestate.com 2023 Riverby Estate Sali’s Block Single Vineyard Marlborough Riesling Price RRP $24 Rating Excellent Tasted blind, there seems some familial likeness to the previous wine. Fragrant with apple, fruit jube, white flowers and honey. Those characters continue on the palate, a little fruit cordial too while chalky phenolic hints adds to the textural interest. The fruit sweetness builds but this remains just off-dry with a lovely tangy contrast to close. Lots of flavour, nicely done. www.riverbyestate.com
