Wine reviewer Mark Henderson enjoys some rieslings.
With Mr Collins away, Mr McLaren joined me to taste through this flight of (mostly drier) rieslings.
Three of the group had the International Riesling Foundation "tasting scale'' on the back label, which is a great way to showcase just how dry, or sweet, the wine will be to taste.
Riesling is produced in myriad styles ranging from bone dry through to lusciously sweet, and while many dry rieslings are now labelled "Dry'', many others give no clue as to their sweetness level, which can be confusing to consumers.
Price: $25
Rating: Very good
The nose is subtle but appealing with bush honey and florals to the fore.
The palate is rich and textural; initially offering notes of mandarin and apple, with luscious honeyed nuances coming with time.
Under this honey is a nice acid line and the wine finishes dry and crisp.
This was rather tasty with time in the glass.
Price: $22.85
Rating: Very good
This wine is relatively shy on the nose; coaxing brings up Fruit Jubes.
Once in the mouth it is rich and mouthfilling and hinting at some secondary characters with a lovely toastiness.
The midpalate shows the core of citrus, with a chalky zest on the finish, giving grip.
Nothing flashy or showy here, just very nicely balanced.
Price: $25
Rating: Very good to excellent
Gunflint and burnt match lead the way here with a gently honeyed underlay and a whisper of talc.
Nicely poised in the mouth with citrus, citrus zest and gunflint, building to a long crisp finish with hints of apple.
This is a finely poised dry riesling, with minerality adding complexity.
Price: $32
Rating: Very good
A bag of boiled sweets and then a zingy burst like freshly squeezed citrus zest.
The palate continues the citrus theme with grapefruit elements and light touches of honey.
A long, dry and bracing finish with a lovely spiciness.
With surprising weight on the palate this feels a little uncoiled yet, just waiting to burst out.
Price: $15
Rating: Excellent
Expressive nose with citrus and lime zest, spice and honey.
Aeration brings added layers of talc and beeswax with the honeyed notes intensifying.
The lemon/lime elements, joined by apple, flow on to the refined and balanced palate, which builds in the glass, leading to a long, crisp, refreshing finish.
Delightful.
Price: $22
Rating: Excellent
Powerful nose with honeycomb, spices and ripe fruits.
Those ripe flavours flow on to the palate, adding spice and honey, and a dry straw note like a summer meadow.
Fruit sweetness here, but a fine acid line through the wine leaves this with a long, dry, zesty finish, which is quite delightful.
Delicious!
Price: $27
Rating: Very good to excellent
Honey, blossom and lavender lead the way: quite seductive.
Very rich and honeyed on the palate with musk and ripe citrus (orange/mandarin), ripe stonefruits and almost a touch of pineapple.
Musky botrytis characters.
This is an appealing, very lush style, yet retains a nice lick of acidity and an apricot kernel counterpoint.
Price: $25
Rating: Excellent
Citrus blossom and honeysuckle here, fine and fragrant.
Ripe fruits on the palate, citrus edging to the lime spectrum, with honey building and building as the wine breathes and opens up.
A laser beam of acidity running through the wine gives this great energy.
This ends with a long, honeyed finish, yet fresh and zingy.
Marvellous.
