I think riesling is my favourite white variety. Recent positive comments on Villa reserve riesling on another thread got me thinking which were my favourites and to wonder what I should also try from NZ and Australia. I prefer my rieslings with at least a touch of sweetness (and not too pricey!), though a dry wine can make a nice change.
My top 4 riesling's are (currently):
Pegasus Bay - got to be on the list; spritzy, classy and long
Felton Road - the med sweet one, not the dry - I had a bottle of the 06 last week - super
Carrick - a personal fave - not sure if others agree - very good QPR
Greenhough Hope Vineyard - may not be so well known, but I think this is a lovely wine, and I bought a few more of the 06 this month
So what would you have in your favourite riesling list? Should I add the Villa reserve? And what about Oz (or Germany for the matter)?
Which riesling?
My favourite white variety is also riesling. I haven't had any NZ Rieslings yet, only Aus. Of the ones I've tasted since I arrived here seven months ago my favourite's are:
1. Petaluma Hanlin Hill
2. Pewsey Vale Contours
3. Pauletts
My general opinion is that the quality of Australian rieslings is very good, and when you consider the price you pay it's amazing. I like them both young and aged. I'm hoping to visit Clare valley soon to widen my Riesling horizon.
Gustav
1. Petaluma Hanlin Hill
2. Pewsey Vale Contours
3. Pauletts
My general opinion is that the quality of Australian rieslings is very good, and when you consider the price you pay it's amazing. I like them both young and aged. I'm hoping to visit Clare valley soon to widen my Riesling horizon.
Gustav
Gustav the Norwegian
"Progress is not achieved without deviation from the norm" - Frank Zappa
"Progress is not achieved without deviation from the norm" - Frank Zappa
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Matthew Moate
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Dave Dewhurst
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Re: Which riesling?
Bick wrote:I think riesling is my favourite white variety. Recent positive comments on Villa reserve riesling on another thread got me thinking which were my favourites and to wonder what I should also try from NZ and Australia. I prefer my rieslings with at least a touch of sweetness (and not too pricey!), though a dry wine can make a nice change.
My top 4 riesling's are (currently):
Pegasus Bay - got to be on the list; spritzy, classy and long
Felton Road - the med sweet one, not the dry - I had a bottle of the 06 last week - super
Carrick - a personal fave - not sure if others agree - very good QPR
Greenhough Hope Vineyard - may not be so well known, but I think this is a lovely wine, and I bought a few more of the 06 this month
So what would you have in your favourite riesling list? Should I add the Villa reserve? And what about Oz (or Germany for the matter)?
I'm a big Riesling fan, and I also prefer some residual sugar - wines more in a Germanic style rather than the drier riesling commonly found in Oz.
Felton Rd Riesling (the one not labelled dry) would be my favourite over the past 5-10 years. Both the 05 and 06 are beautiful wines; interestingly I think the 07 is a slightly lesser wine, with reduced fruit intensity. It may just be going through a dumb phase.
Pegasus Bay is also always excellent. Fromm (labelled spatlese or auslese) is always classy. I like, but don't love, the Villa Maria Reserve. Previous vintages have been rather austere, although the 2006 was better. I haven't yet tried the 2007.
Other favourites over more than 1 vintage:
Muddy Water Unplugged
Melness
Pyramid Valley Lebecca
Mt Difficulty Target Valley
Millton Opou
Currently drinking well:
Forrest Doctors 06
Crater Rim 07
Astrolabe 06
Waipara Hills 07
And there are lots of lovely German rieslings around. 2005 was a stellar vintage and pretty much all the wines I've tried from 05 are lovely. 2006 seems pretty good too. Dr Loosen L Riesling can be found for in Auckland for $20 - it's a nice wine at that price. Sadly most of the better wines get to be a bit expensive, but there are some good wines in the $25-40 range but it can be hit and miss as some of the kabinett wines from good producers are better than a spatlese from other wineries.
Rob
Re: Which riesling?
Paradox wrote:I like, but don't love, the Villa Maria Reserve. Previous vintages have been rather austere, although the 2006 was better. I haven't yet tried the 2007.
I've not had the Villa reserve at all yet (bit remiss I know), but I looked it up on the Villa website and it seems the residual sugar is rising with each vintage, which may underlie your preference for more recent vintages. The residual sugar for some recent vintages: 30 g/L (2006), 18 g/L (2004), 5 g/L (2001) - so there appears to be a trend.
Target Gully has been on my must try it list for a while, but haven't got around to it yet.
Thanks to others for the Oz suggestions too. Two votes for the Pewsey Vale I see - does it need cellaring like Petaluma or is it a good quaff off the shelf?
had both the 05 and 07 villa reserve riesling over the last few weeks. the 05 was a sgood as anyone needs a wine to be. just sensational. the 07 is also right up my alley. drank 2 bottles last weekend just so enjoyable. the 07 is about 29 grams and the 05 felt similar
Follow me on Vivino for tasting notes Craig Thomson
GrahamB wrote:This is quite a patriotic thread.
Posters from NZ list NZ rieslings. Posters from Aus list Aus rieslings.
very nice
Well let me ruin your day...
My favourite rieslings in the sort of sugar range people are quoting are all from Germany and NZ:
Germany:
Donnhoff Oberhauser Liestenberg Kabinett is the most recent (only tried the 06 - loved it)
Many others from Fritz Haag, Max Ferd Richter, Dr Loosen, JJ Prum.
NZ:
Pyramid Valley Lebeccas
Craggy Range Glasnevin Gravels
Muddy Water James Hardwick
Muddy Water Unplugged
Felton Road - yes the medium one, and yes I agree the 07 is lesser than previous ones
Peg Bay - nice on release, but the 06 has come across as bitter on the last two outings
Fromm LaStrada is lovely.
Australia: well no one of any note has made a Kabinett style for any length of time, but among the dry styles:
Seppelt Drumborg
Orlando Steingarten
Crawford River
I'm keen to get my hands on the Pewsey Vale Prima.
AB
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Daryl Douglas
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Forest Hill (Mt Barker)
Wilson (Polish Hill)
Howard Park (Mt Barker - but not tried yet)
are also quite highly regarded for their rieslings. I've tried some entry-level examples from the former two and they were very good/excellent wines. Looking forward to tasting the Forest Hill Block 1 07 very soon but wonder if it'll be as good as the 06 that Halliday rated 96/100.
Eden Valley riesling can be excellent from good vintages and Watervale too. The Lehmann Eden Valley 07 is drinking very nicely right now, don't think it'll last much more than 5 years but I like my whites reasonably young, with fresh and vibrant fruit anyway.
Cheers
daz
Wilson (Polish Hill)
Howard Park (Mt Barker - but not tried yet)
are also quite highly regarded for their rieslings. I've tried some entry-level examples from the former two and they were very good/excellent wines. Looking forward to tasting the Forest Hill Block 1 07 very soon but wonder if it'll be as good as the 06 that Halliday rated 96/100.
Eden Valley riesling can be excellent from good vintages and Watervale too. The Lehmann Eden Valley 07 is drinking very nicely right now, don't think it'll last much more than 5 years but I like my whites reasonably young, with fresh and vibrant fruit anyway.
Cheers
daz
