A recent Riesling focused tasting.
- 2007 Taltarni Clover Hill Sparkling – Australia, Tasmania, Northern Tasmania
Citrus, cookies and hay on the nose. A touch of dosage on the palate is pleasant and there is good texture and some depth of flavour here. Very good. 89/100
- 2001 Jacob’s Creek/Orlando Riesling Steingarten – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Touch of kerosene with lime and some honey. Palate is starting to move into secondary characters. Good length and extremely drinkable. 91/100 - 2002 Jacob’s Creek/Orlando Riesling Steingarten – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Lovely, complex aromatics – floral, spices, toast and citrus. Palate has excellent depth and length along with complexity matching the nose. Superb now and getting better as it develops. 93/100 - 2003 Jacob’s Creek/Orlando Riesling Steingarten – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Light floral notes with musk, honey and chalk. Palate has some richness to it, finishing crisp and clean. In a good spot for drinking now, it isn’t in danger of falling over but I think it won’t improve much. 90/100 - 2005 Jacob’s Creek/Orlando Riesling Steingarten – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Very youthful and closed on the nose with some spice and citrus coming through after time. The palate is closed as well but there is potential here, it just isn’t showing what it has to offer right now. 88/100
- 2004 Jim Barry Riesling Florita Watervale – Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Watervale
Lime, floral and youthfully lifted nose. There is a great deal of fruit character on the palate, supported by a good acid drive. Good length. Significantly better than the young wine I tried 7 years ago. 89/100 - 2005 Trevor Jones Riesling Reserve – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Floral, orange peel and lemon on the nose. Palate has decent richness but there isn’t that much depth to it. Good but not great. 87/100 - 2004 Rockford Riesling Eden Valley – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Herbaceous element stands out on the nose and there is also a touch of alcohol. The palate is bland and mediocre. 84/100
- 2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Riesling Eroica – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Mineral driven nose with some citrus and spice. The palate is off dry and is very appealing, the touch of sweetness not standing apart from the fruit and tempered by good acid. Delicious. 91/100 - 2009 Domaine Ostertag Riesling Vignoble d’E – France, Alsace, Haut-Rhin, Alsace AOC
Some late harvest rich character on the nose and tropical fruits. The palate is rich and has good length. 89/100 - 2007 Stift Göttweig Riesling Kremstal DAC Reserve Silberbichl – Austria, Niederösterreich, Kremstal
Rich and ripe nose of citrus, pepper and mango. The palate is spicy and peppery, almost Gruner like in style. Could use a touch more depth and brightness but it is quite good anyway. 88/100 - 2010 Grosset Riesling Polish Hill – Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Polish Hill
Extremely youthful. Lemon and minerals on the nose. Palate is dry, long and the acid is prominent. Needs time but I think it is well positioned for development. 90/100
- 2001 Grosset Riesling Polish Hill – Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Polish Hill
Wax, honey, hay and wet rocks. The palate is honeyed and well balanced, with good acid still. A good wine, but I’m not sure that it will benefit from any more significant aging. 90/100 - 1994 Taylors Riesling St Andrews – Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Into the plateau of it’s development, this is excellent now with honeyed complexity and lovely length. Really super drinking right now. 92/100
- 2011 Auburn Riesling Alexandra – New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
Floral nose, with violets and rose petals. Palate is evidently off-dry, it is a touch soft, needing a bit more brightness – but still very pleasant to drink. 88/100 - 2011 Auburn Riesling – New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago Bendigo
Candy apple and lime on the nose. Feels like 50-60 grams residual sugar on the palate which is decently balanced with acidity. A good wine without being compelling. 88/100 - 2011 Mount Edward Riesling Drumlin – New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
Floral bath salts, lemon and spice. Lovely acid line and excellent balance. Very tasty wine now and should develop well. 90/100 - 2011 Felton Road Riesling Block 1 – New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
Lemon, hay and mixed spices. Great lift on the off-dry palate from the acid structure. Very good length. 90/100
- 2007 Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese – Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Given a good decant but still took time in the glass to open up and even then it was all minerals and chalk with faint citrus fruit. The palate has delicious richness and exceptional length. Screams potential but needs time. 92/100 - 2007 Reinhold Haart Piesporter Domherr Riesling Spätlese – Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Green tinged straw colour. Stone fruit, earth and minerals on the nose. Palate has some delicious sweetness to it but needs some time to develop out of this primary phase. 89/100
- 1975 Hof Sonneck Johannisberger Hölle Riesling – Germany, Rheingau
A little bit musty initially but this blew off. There is some caramel, marmalade and ginger on the nose. Palate is honeyed and holding well, but there is little complexity. 87/100 - 1990 Freiherr Langwerth von Simmern Hattenheimer Mannberg Riesling Spätlese trocken – Germany, Rheingau
Some almond, smoke and grapefruit on the nose. The palate is a touch wooden and doesn’t have much character. Only okay. 87/100
- 2006 Argyle Pinot Noir Reserve – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Mint, cherry and oak on the nose. The palate is more savoury and earthy, with nice balance and length. 88/100 - 2008 De Bortoli Riorret The Abbey Vineyard – Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
Interesting nose of roast meat, violets, earth and cherries. The palate doesn’t quite have as much character and leans into being a little bit too lean for its own good. 88/100
- 1997 Penfolds Shiraz RWT – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Nose of cinnamon and red currant. Fragmented, unimpressive palate with alcohol and tannins sticking out. Maybe a bad bottle but there was no overt fault. 87/100 - 1997 Wendouree Shiraz – Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Black cherry, menthol, white pepper and floral elements. Approachable on the palate even though there is impressive structure. Very enjoyable wine that speaks of it’s place and maker. 91/100