Winemaker Notes
The Riesling is the pride and joy of the winery, in the sense that it was the first wine produced and launched to the public. It is textural and mineral ripe with off-dry flavors of lime and sweet almond blossom. The citrus notes meld together with crisp, minerality, and a complex Comice pear and kumquat character. It finishes with a beautiful, lingering acidity. This wine is made by blending two distinct blocks of Riesling from the vineyard.
Pair the Mt. Beautiful Riesling with fresh New Zealand Scallops other seafood, spicy dishes, and a laissez-faire outlook or drink on its own on a warm afternoon!
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Mt. Beautiful Riesling is intense and attractive. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of petrol and ripe apples. Pair it with slightly spicy, grilled chicken legs. (Tasted: November 24, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
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.