Kilikanoon 2003 Morts Block Riesling: Gavin and this forum single handedly put me onto this drink, and I thank you. Colour was a pale yellow (certainly not that clear light appearance of many young rieslings) and opened with a fragrent lifted apples and citrus nose. On the palate it had fanatstic vibrancy, freshness and acids that refreshed the mouth. A lively riesling with no overt features but just a balanced enjoyable drink matched with calamari and sunset: Excellent
Skillogalee 2003 Riesling: Paler in colour that the Morts but a slightly richer style. Acids were soft and inviting and suited the asian food almost as good as the cleasing beer. Stella folow up from their 2002: Highly recommended.
Jim Barry 2003 Lodge Hill Riesling: I had never seen this label til their 2002 (not sure when their first was?) but the 2002 was a stunner, something you could drink all lunchtime. The 2003 however was a huge come down. The wine was filled with disjointed acids that had no fruit intensity to back it up. Very commercial and quite disappointing. Would use the TORB scale here but don't know what comes below Recommended.
Pewsey Vale 1998 Contours Riesling: Developing nicely, quite yellow in colour, golden not far away. I love the richness of an aged riesling and at 5 years this is a good example. Just amazing how these wines fill out so much with time. Both the 97 and the 98 of this seemed quite mature and forward (not a bad thing) and should comfort some for those concerned with retarded development under screw cap. As expected a different style to the young rieslings and surely the whites suited most for red drinkers. Good acidity and balance so hardly going to fall over but drinks well at the moment and a treat to see aged products on the shelves.Highly recommended.
As a whole I have found the 2003 Clare Rieslings quite disappointing and they seem to lack the fanatstic intensity of the 2002's. It appeared you could hardly go wrong in 2002 but 2003 requires more scrutiny before purchase. The Kilikanoon Morts and the Mesh have been the 2003 standouts for me so far, but I got so many more to try.
As I wrote this post a looked over my cellar listing and pleasantly found that in the past 18 months the only white wine I have bought has been riesling
cheers
TA