Cool Wine Tasting Group - Riesling Comparisons

Elgin
Tasted Tuesday, April 8, 2014 by rikipedia with 58 views

Introduction

A wine group based in Elgin that looks at comparing different wines with Elgin equivalents - most of the time...

Flight 1 - Same Year, two countries (4 Notes)

  • 2012 Spioenkop Riesling 87 Points

    South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin

    (Tasted Blind) Light yellow lemon in colour with lighter savoury notes intermingled with burnt match, flint and then lime, suggesting a more classic Clare Valley - especially with its ripeness.
    On entry, the wine has a sweet edge, with a bright, sharp-edged acidity leading to a glassy texture (Austria?). Wet stones and a mineral profile dominate this leaner, more unforgiving style. Dry and stern, this is a well-made wine with a smidgeon of overripeness (possibly local?) that is difficult to place.
    Debut vintage 2010. 13.5% ABV; 2g/l RS

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  • 2012 Klein Constantia Riesling 85 Points

    South Africa, Coastal Region, Cape Peninsula, Constantia

    (Tasted Blind) Mid yellow, with a touch of pétillance (CO2). Pure, vivid fruits greet the nose with sherbet orange peel, lemon zest, limes, jasmine and blossom. Bright and obvious, the palate has a sweet fruit entry and zesty acidity, but some development as a savoury, smoky character emerges. The structure is rather flimsy, and whilst the wine is fleshy (suggesting a warmer vintage), it lacks backbone and penetration, closing with boiled sweet notes, almond paste and coriander. Seems past its best.
    13.46% ABV; 6 g/L TA; 3.5 g/L RS.
    Blend of younger and older vines.

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  • 2012 Ashbrook Estate Riesling Gold Label 92 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    (Tasted Blind) Mid-lemon in colour with pronounced aromas of lime cordial, white grapefruit, Gala apple and lemon zest. Classic Clare Valley, possibly Margaret River style, the palate delivers a pure-fruited wine with a zesty, vibrant acidity, lime peel texture and a long and refreshing length.
    This is all apple skins and lime juice and has a lovely gait as it glides its way across the palate.
    Sourced from a vineyard planted in 1975.

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  • 2012 Plantagenet Riesling 91 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Mount Barker

    (Tasted Blind) Light to mid-lemon colour with flinty, mineral characteristics, accompanied by cold metal steel, lemon blossom and lime juice - narrow and focused. A little reductive on the palate before opening to lime cordial, wet stones over dry (as per the nose) and lemon zest. A direct wine with a pure-fruited poise and a wealth of fleshy fruit with juicy acidity and chalky texture. Leaner, a little austere, the wine is upfront, tensile and finishes long.

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Flight 2 - All 2010 except one 2011 and three different countries (5 Notes)

  • 2011 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett #2 89 Points

    Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

    (Tasted Blind) A light lemon colour offering pure fruit notes of jasmine tea, rose petals, and chamomile, with a concentrated litchi element. A beautiful fruit intensity on the entry with a sinewy texture and mouth-cleansing acidity, yet with a touch of sweet fruit of lemon oil that itself is mouth-coating! Rich and complex with a subtle touch of kerosene, typical of well-aged Mosel Rieslings, this lovely, easy-going expression flows to a fairly long farewell.
    12% ABV

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  • 2010 Radford Wines Riesling Bio Dynamically Grown 91 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    (Tasted Blind) Light to mid-lemon in colour, it has lifted fruity aromas of white flowers, chamomile tea, and wet chalk with a slightly savoury edge. It is a pure fruited entry with intense lemony and apple flavours.
    There’s a juicy, mineral-driven acidity reminiscent of licking stones, with a steely backbone and apple skin texture. A hint of sweetness is present, balanced by a pithy, phenolic element, and the wine closes medium long with minty qualities. Some kerosene notes suggest some age. Tricky to pinpoint, the wine felt more Austrian than Australian.
    Closed by Vinolok.

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  • 2010 Paul Cluver Riesling Estate Wine 85 Points

    South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin

    (Tasted Blind) Mid-lemon with a light yellow hue. It is one of those noses that is both reductive with mineral and flint yet also displays some aged characters of sweaty, warm orange and pineapple before being followed by sweet lemon and lime notes. The entry is sweet-fruited with a rather flimsy structure that lacks some precision. However, plenty of white peach and citrus fill the sweeter mid-palate, and the zesty acidity keeps it facing forward. It was just out of focus for me, as well as warmer alcohol is affecting its balance and shortening its finish.
    11.3% ABV: 12.4g/L RS; 8.1 g/L TA; 3.12 pH.

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  • 2010 Trimbach Riesling Reserve 93 Points

    France, Alsace

    (Tasted Blind) Light yellow with aromas of almond paste suggesting some bottle age alongside slate, mineral and savoury undertones—classic German Riesling! The palate is marked by high mineral-edged acidity flowing and fairly glassy in texture; good intensity with a subtle touch of residual sugar. Complex, the mouthfeel is gorgeous, with sherbet, Granny Smith apple, slate-like (like licking stones) and blanched almonds. Yet wilts a little towards the tail; Pretty stiff Riesling!

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  • 2010 Grosset Riesling Springvale Watervale 94 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Watervale

    (Tasted Blind) The wine is light yellow, and the nose bursts with lemon rind and lime cordial. The palate is precise and concentrated, with lots of lime and lemon flavours fleshing out the mid-palate. The fruit purity is remarkable, with a tight line of juicy acidity and a long, poised finish. Finely structured, this works a treat!
    Sourced from Watervale, with red loam over slate. Mechanically pruned.

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