New Zealand Riesling

30th April 2010

Pretaster

Bascand Sauvignon Blanc 2005

(Malborough)

Riesling

• One of the best aging white wines due to natural high acidity levels. High sugar content provides for additional preservation – sweeter Rieslings age longer

• More common in South Island regions. South Island regions produce Riesling with a vibrant, crisp character and a diverse array of regional styles ranging from steely, dry Riesling to intensely sweet, lush, botrytis-affected wines.

Riesling

• Favors cool climates and long sunshine hours

• Ripens relatively late in the season• Long, slow ripening and proper pruning

keeps the yield low and the flavour concentrated

• Often reflects place of upbringing• Important to have fruit purity – more

important than winemaker tricks!

Sauvignon Blanc

Chardonnay

Pinot Gris Riesling

Waipara &Canterbury

Malborough

Waitaki Valley

Waipara &Canterbury

Malborough

Waitaki Valley

Cloudy Bay Riesling 2005

• Nose: floral fragrance of wild honey and beeswax. Hints of fresh kaffir lime leaf and lemon blossom.

• Palate is generous and judiciously balanced. Mouth-watering citrus flavours amplify the floral aromatics.

• Crisp off-dry finish.

• 11.5%, 5.4 g/l RS

Kaffir lime

• Native to Laos, Indonesia,

Malaysia and Thailand.

• Used in Southeast Asian cuisine, but grown worldwide as a backyard shrub.

• Commonly used in Lao and Thai curry paste, adding an aromatic, astringent flavour.

Bouldevines The Grid Riesling 2006

• Bottle aged characters: lime marmalade, honey, a touch of toast and classic Riesling citrus fruits.

• Nose: Citrus flavours and lemon skin backed with a slight hint of kerosene.

• Palate: Linear Acid back bone, flushed out

with opulent filling fruit weight. Lingering

citrus & pear. Gala apple, lime & guava. • 2009 was top in latest Cuisine magazine.• 13.0%, 7.4 g/l RS, 7.8 g/l TA • - Bob Campell

Cloudy Bay Riesling 2005

Bouldevines The Grid Riesling 2006

$30.17

$8.99

Waipara &Canterbury

Malborough

Waitaki Valley

Craggy Range Winery RieslingOtago Station Vineyard 2008

• Beautifully fresh, with elegance and spine. Bone dry.

• The river-stone style gives

lots to enjoy now, and lots

more to open up.

• Last at least 5 years.

• 11%

Kurow Village Riesling 2008

• Crisp and clean in appearance• Nose is particularly fragrant

exhibiting green apple and fresh lime notes, underpinned by floral fragrance.

• Dry palate with steely hints and a core of lively acidity. Ripe apple and apricot fruit balance the fresh citrus attack. Long and full finish.

• 11%, 16.7g/l RS

Craggy Range Winery Riesling

Otago Station Vineyard 2008

Kurow Village Riesling 2008

$31.53

$19.86

Raffle

Leaning Rock Pinot Noir 2002

Central Otago

Waipara &Canterbury

Malborough

Waitaki Valley

Main Divide Riesling 2008

• Citrus fruit characters. Lemons and limes, but also an undercurrent of white fleshed peaches and nectarines.

• Hints of honeysuckle and

extra concentration and

richness from the Botrytis.• Natural acidity & minerality.• 12%

Pegasus Bay 2008 Riesling

• Humid Autumn conditions led to some Botrytis developing – honeysuckle and honeycomb influences.

• Lemons, limes and mandarins at the fore, with a background of ripe stonefruit.

• Natural acidity and tingling minerality helps draw out the palate structure to a citrus zest finish.

• - Michael Cooper • 13%, 30 g/L RS.

Botrytis

Main Divide Riesling 2008

Pegasus Bay Riesling 2008

$16.31

$24.73 (case)~$28

Pegasus Bay AriaLate Harvest Riesling 2008

• Late autumn humid conditions led to some botrytis developing.  Honeysuckle and honeycomb characters.

• Spritzig. Result of natural carbon dioxide.

• Ripe stone fruit characters: yellow fleshed peaches and apricots intertwined with hints of lychees, loquats and fresh figs. 

• Winemaking influences kept to a minimum.

• Citrus impressions of lemons, limes and mandarins supported by a core of tingling acidity and minerality, drawing out the length and acting as a perfect foil to its luscious sweetness.

• Continue to improve for 5-7 years and live 15 years+.

Giesen. The BrothersCanterbury Riesling 2005

• Auslese style Riesling. Fruit sourced from one of the original Giesen Canterbury vineyards, planted in 1981.

• Full of fruit with clean fresh acidity.• No botrytis! Pure concentration of classic mandarin and citrus

peel, balanced by pure gingery spice, sweetness with great length.

• 7.5%, 97g/l RS

Pegasus Bay Aria

Late Harvest Riesling 2008

Giesen. The Brothers

Canterbury Riesling 2005

$33.51

$28.12

Next Tasting

Pinot Noir

21st May