A year's bottle age can work wonders with good riesling. This batch was more about weight, texture and backbone than the fruitsalady flavours that show up in many young, more simple rieslings.
These wines became even more attractive after being open a day, indicating their ability to age for another year or two. Some of them cry out to be matched with food - try cheese, fish or chicken, smoked or with creamy or spicy sauces.
Best under $20
$19.90
An attractive, fresh riesling with a nice purity of fruit which develops a lovely suggestion of buttered toast and marmalade, and a lingering dry finish.
Average value
Three stars (out of five)
$18
Average value
Three stars
This promising first release from Abbey Cellars which specialises in Bordeaux reds and riesling is more weighty than many southern rieslings, with clean juicy fruit hinting of apple, lime and pineapple, a steely hint of mineral and a lingering finish. Good with food.
$21
Average value
Three stars
A zesty wine that dances on the palate, hints of mineral and lime and finishes with a steely crispness.
$28
Average value
Four stars
An exciting riesling, fragrant with lime and citrus blossom, hints of crisp, textured apple, delicate but mouthfilling, and with a natural sweetness that balances the bright, steely dry finish. Riesling fans will want to try this.
$30
Average value
Four stars
An stylish wine from the heavier Brancott soils, this is lively with hints of grapefruit, a light but not obvious sweetness and a slight bitterness on the finish which blends well with food.
$25
Average value
Four stars
John Forrest explores two soil types in Marlborough with his Valleys rieslings. This from the gravelly Wairau soils is fresh and floral with hints of lime, mineral and a nice weight in the mouth with a crisp but nicely balanced finish.
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.
