Karra Yerta Riesling 2005 (Flaxmans Valley, Eden, SA) Screwcap, $20
As Marie from Karra Yerta suggests, a chilled bottle of Riesling is exactly the sort of drink to help maintain sanity during the heatwave gripping Southern Australia at present.
I actually like the heat myself (swimming is my favourite weekend pursuit) but after spending a 45.5C Boxing Day in Perth a year ago I well know how unenjoyable extreme heat is...
A very light yellow colour, this has a slightly subdued, lightly toast & honey nose that just covers the citrus fruit underneath it, with tendrils of celery and grapefruit juice poking through. It's a embryonically developed nose that still lifts out of the glass with its purity.
After this quite softly spoken start, the palate is quite a step up, like accidentally standing on the tv remote and turning the volume to 11 - it just builds limey intensity in a big whoosh of powerful grapefruit & lime flavour. The finish is tight and quite grippy, with a lingering, slightly woody dryness that suggests a very long future ahead. Man is it dry.
So then, this is a fantastically structured, powerfully dry and limey Eden valley Riesling that has just entered its main developmental stage & is slightly stuck in no mans land. The stats add up for serious ageing potential - PH 2.89 & 8.63 g/ltr Acidity - & for my taste, the best is yet to come (over the next 20 years). 18++
2009/10 WCA Wine Journalism 'Young Gun; Wine Judge; Gourmet Traveller WINE and Breathe Hunter Valley magazine contributor; LattéLife & The Retiree columnist; National Liquor News tasting panellist and Chablis lover who fell into the liquor industry chiefly to buy cheap beer.
For Rieslings, would you prefer Eden of Clare Valley?
ReplyDeleteThat's like asking if you have a favourite child Shiraz Man!
ReplyDeleteI like them both. Riesling is my favourite grape, the different regions provide the spice of life.
I totally agree Andrew! Even though I absolutely love Eden rizzas, I am a great fan of Clare ones too. I always make sure that I have a good stock of both in my cellar (and other Edens as well, not just our own Karra Yerta).
ReplyDeleteEven the sub-regions within the Eden Valley region itself provide different wines, even from the same vintage. My favourite Clare riesling would have to be Jeanneret - the Doozie or the Big Fine Girl, I'm not fussed:)