It was a pleasure to taste this batch of rieslings, some delightfully sweet, others austere and dry, or lively and racy, and a couple of weightier ones with presence and texture that retained the vibrancy and harmony of good riesling.
BEST UNDER $20
Woollaston Nelson Riesling 2010. $19
Good value
An attractive, wine, oozing ripe golden peaches, citrus and tropical fruit, mouthfilling with a hint of honey, medium sweet with a crisp, lemony finish.
BEST UNDER $20
Te Mania Nelson Rielsing 2011, $19
Good value
With hints of manuka honey, citrus, lime and mandarin, this off-dry wine is nicely balanced by a lively, crisp finish.
BEST VALUE
Forrest Marlborough Riesling 2010, $22
Good value
Zesty and fragrant with sweet fruit suggesting lime and mandarin marmalade, this is mouthfilling and textural, medium sweet but harmonious with a racy, dryish finish.
Lone Hill Waitaki Riesling 2011, $25
Good value
This impressive first release from Peter and Teresa Wutz's vineyard on Grants Rd, Otiake, is weighty, mouthfilling and textural, fragrant and oozing fruit suggesting mineral, lime, nashi and white peach, but it's also delicate and finishes with a harmonious dryness and long aftertaste.
Rippon Central Otago Riesling 2010, $32
Average value
A stylish wine, fragrant, textural and weighty with hints of honey, lime and ripe fruit, savoury undertones, nicely balanced and off-dry with a crisp, racy finish. It will develop with bottle age as previous vintages have.
Rockburn Tigermoth Central Otago Riesling 2011, $33
Average value
A late harvest style, delicate with low alcohol and sweet with ripe fruit suggesting lime, lemon, honey and apricot, but its vibrant, crisp acidity balances the sweetness.
I expect it will develop with bottle age.
ANOTHER GLASS
• Hawkshead Central Otago Riesling 2011, $20
Three stars (out of five)
Average value
A crisp, off-dry wine hinting of lime and tropical fruit, with a suggestion of honey and toffee and a nervy, zingy finish.
www.hawksheadwine.com
• Leaning Rock Central Otago Riesling 2009, $24
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Average value
An older riesling from Mark Hesson and Dhana Pillai's Hillview Rd vineyard above Alexandra, this hints of fresh lime, lemon and honey with a suggestion of marmalade, and a crisp finish.
www.leaningrock.co.nz
• Richmond Plains Nelson Riesling 2011, $20
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Good value
A crisp, minerally wine with hints of lime. pineapple and mint, and a long, fresh, finish.
www.richmondplains.co.nz
• Gladstone Wairarapa Riesling 2011, $25
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Average value
Initially tight and lean, this opened to reveal more weight and texture, floral hints and minerality, which balances the nervy, dry finish. I expect it will develop with bottle age.
Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate preconceptions, all wine tasting and evaluation is subjective. These are personal recommendations.
