There's something remarkably satisfying about a good riesling.
The wonderful tension between the fruit and the acidity can be exciting, whether its a full on, intense, fruity wine, or a lighter, low-acohol, Germanic style, such as Forrest the Doctors, or Framingham Select (see Another Glass on the ODT website).
Riesling is generally better for a year or so's bottle age.
Richmond Plains Nelson Riesling 2009
(about $19.95)
An attractive, exuberant wine with a zesty freshness hinting of grapefruit, lime and tropical fruit, and a charming, crisp finish.
- Three stars (out of five)
- Average value
Framingham Classic Marlborough Riesling 2008
(about $22)
Wonderful aromas and fruit hinting of lime, lemon and grapefruit, with a hint of honey, buttered toast and kerosene in the background, this is a zesty lively wine that dances on the tongue and lingers for ages on the aftertaste. At a year old, this is beautifully balanced.
A classic that will continue to develop in the bottle.
- Five stars (out of five)
- Good value
(about $30)
Here's a wine that begs for time to develop. When first opened it was tight and crisp, with hints of lime, although its style was hinted at by the underlying tension.
Over the following days it developed aromas and flavours hinting of stonefruit and tropical fruit, suggesting it will benefit from several years bottle age.
- Three stars (out of five)
- Below average value
(about $22)
This shows the delicious delicate side of riesling, with its fragrance and hints of sweet, crisp, ripe apple, and lovely, long, steely finish.
At 8.5% alcohol it's ideal for a lunchtime wine, or, better still with strawberries on a summer afternoon in a couple of years.
- Four stars (out of five)
- Good value
(about $25)
A big wine, hinting of toasted nuts, buttered toast and lime marmalade, but despite the flavours and weight, but I found the finished overbalanced by the high alcohol (14%).
- Two stars (out of five)
- Below average value
(about $27)
Wonderfully fragrant, oozing rose petals and lychees, this gewurztraminer manages to combine the lushness and decadence of the variety with a lovely balanced, firm, stylish finish.
- Four stars (out of five)
- Average value
~ ANOTHER GLASS ~
Framingham Select Marlborough Riesling 2008
(about $32)
Another lively, low-alcohol (7.5%) riesling with a hint of lime, citrus and honey, light in the mouth but with a taut, steely, finish.
Wonderful tension and balance - just the thing to sip with strawberries on a summer afternoon.
- Four stars (out of five)
- Average value
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.
- Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate preconceptions, all wine tasting and evaluation is subjective. These are personal recommendations.
