Dandelion ‘Wonderland of the Eden Valley’ Riesling 2011

Dandelion Riesling

Dandelion ‘Wonderland of the Eden Valley’ Riesling 2011 (Eden Valley, SA)
11.5%, Screwcap, $24
Source: Sample
www.dandelionvineyards.com.au

Sourced from a vineyard that turns 100 this year, this was whole bunch pressed and delicately handled to encourage freshness and texture. Good work. Clever packaging too (like all of the Dandelion wines). It’s a rather complete operation is Dandelion actually, even if the wines don’t always move me like I want them too.

This wine too is quite an achievement for the vintage, showing none of the hints of rot and awkward acidity that blights many of the 2011 Eden Valley Riesling. It certainly smells the part too, all sherbet over slate on the nose, though perhaps a little forward considering the low alcohol and obviously high acidity. The palate is slightly forward too, the edges looking a little toasty whilst the middle is still briny and tight, the acidity prominent but still soft.

Want the latest updates sent to your inbox? Please enter all required fields Correct invalid entries

That softness of acidity is one of the things I most like this wine – a sense of proper ripeness and cohesion and generosity. It’s not quite as persistent as the 2010 iteration but again this is rather drinkable Riesling. 17.1/90