Winemaker Notes
Pair this Mt. Beautiful Riesling with fresh New Zealand Scallops, spicy dishes and a laissez-faire outlook on a warm afternoon.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
This delicately eloquent white from the sunny Waipara Valley exudes aromas of jalapeño-drenched lime with a touch of salinity. It’s a crisp, distinguished expression with tightrope acidity and notes of apricot, beeswax, and honeyed white flower petals.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The first time I tasted the Mt. Beautiful Riesling, I was surprised at how delicious the wine was. The 2016 vintage is fresh and bright. TASTING NOTES: This wine is a wine to like. Pair its crisp apple, lightly-petrol aromas, and flavors with lightly-caramelized scallops in a sauce of red pepper flakes and chili oil. (Tasted: September 18, 2019, San Francisco, CA USA)
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Wine Enthusiast
The North Canterbury region, 70 miles north of Christchurch, excels at a range of cool climate varietals, and Riesling is one of them. This one has 13 grams of residual sugar, which is enough to detect, but mainly contributes a slippery texture and balances the acidity. On the nose, there are notes of lemon, lime, white pepper, lavender and other wildflower blossoms. The palate finishes on a tasty honeysuckle note. A delicate and varietally expressive drop from an underrated region that should be drunk now or within the next few years.
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Wine Spectator
Offers a zingy mix of green apple, lime sherbet, lemongrass and pear flavors. Lip-smacking on the finish, fresh and vibrant.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
On the central eastern coast of the South Island, Canterbury includes a collection of small and varied subregions. The region is cool and dry with low rainfall and light, infertile soils. Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are well-suited here, with Pinot Gris coming in third place.