Winemaker Notes
The Riesling is their baby, in the sense that it was the first wine we produced and launched to the public. It is a purely textural adventure, ripe with off-dry flavors of honeysuckle, pink grapefruit and sweet almond blossom. The citrus notes meld together with crisp minerality and a complex ripe apple character. It finishes with a beautiful, lingering acidity. This wine is made by blending together two distinct blocks of Riesling from the vineyard.
Pair their 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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Wine Enthusiast
This is a straightforward and delicious Riesling from North Canterbury, a region that excels at the variety. The nose is a subtle combo of lemon-lime and grapefruit with whispers of kerosine and honeysuckle. The palate is off-dry, but there are heaps of bright acidity, so the sweetness isn't pronounced. Fresh, juicy, floral and begging for a Thai curry.
Editors' Choice
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.