Wine Club – Riesling

We kicked off the new session of Wine Club yesterday by taking a look a couple of Rieslings. We look at Riesling awhile back but not on its own but during a tribute to Alsace where it was one of three grapes we looked at.

As I enjoyed the Lingenfelder Kabinett Riesling and some stock was still available, I picked it as one of the two Rieslings we’d be trying.

Review of it is below -

http://zippysauce.blogspot.com/2009/11/com-b-q-part-1.html

For the second Riesling I wanted something from somewhere other than Germany, Alsace and Canada, maybe a region that wasn’t well known for Riesling to show the diversity of this wonderful grape. My LCBO contact recommended a bottle of 2008 Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling from Australia. Australia wasn’t an area that jumps out at me for Riesling so I thought ‘why not’.

Note - I’m just going to focus on the Petaluma as the Lingenfelder has already been review here before.

Here is the LCBO Information on the wine -

PETALUMA HANLIN HILL RIESLING 2008

VINTAGES 138537
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 21.95
Wine, White Wine,
12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: South Australia, Australia
By: Lion Nathan Wine Group
Release Date: Dec 5, 2009

Tasting Note ... A fragrant Clare Valley Riesling that evokes the scent of lemon barley, a squeeze of sweet lime, pear juice, bath salts and spice. In the mouth it's fine and slatey, crisp but not unapproachable as a young wine, combining delicacy with abundant flavour ... and the acidity, I think, feels entirely natural and very fine. I think it's an each way bet, now or later. A big thumbs up from me (as they say) and I think it will play in Peoria too. Drink 2008-2020+. Score - 95. (Gary Walsh, www.winefront.com.au, Aug. 2008)

The nose on the Petaluma was a pleasing combination of lemon and spice. Tasting it you certainly noticed that it was done in a much drier style than the Kabinett one. Lime was the dominate flavour to this wine. The structure on the Petaluma was good with nice balanced acidity. The biggest issue I had with the Petaluma was the lack of ‘wow’ factor as there was nothing that really jumped out and impressed me with this wine.

We got in some Chinese food that leaned towards the spicier side in the dish selection. Both wines were good with the food but the Lingenfelder was the crowd favourite.

The food and the wines were a nice way to launch this new session of Wine Club and next month we’ll be taking a look at two Douro wines from Portugal.

Cheers!

Mark