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| Rise Riesling Goodun’ |
Rise Watervale Riesling 2011 (Clare, SA)
11.5%, Screwcap, $20
Source: Sample
http://www.risevineyards.com
It’s been interesting (or I’ve found it interesting) to see how winemakers have handled the higher acidity of the 2011 South Australian vintage. Many makers they haven’t handled it at all, producing hard, green wines that lack flesh (and drink poorly). The more adaptive/switched on producers though have realised that the year required wines to have more sweetness and juiciness to balance out said acidity (and have made good wines because of it).
That sweetness balance is evident here too, a flourish of limey generosity that, whilst not evident on the nose, rounds out the palate nicely. It’s a slightly unfriendly nose actually, all unripe citrus and not much else. But the lemon Solo sweetness of the palate more than makes up for it, cancelling out the jagged edged, vintage derived acidity to make for a sustainable good drink. Should look even better with age too. Good stuff. Well priced too. 17.7/92+
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2 Comments
Agree completely with your 2011 comments. Noticed a number of 'harsh' wines around. I know it was a challenging year – especially in places like Clare and Barossa, but were they too keen to get the fruit off for fear of disease?
In saying that; there are definite examples of really good, and interesting, Rieslings from those regions in 2011. So it was possible. Would love to see them in ten years or so also.
Spot on Jason. Much of the problems are a combination of factors, including fruit not getting ripe, problems with rot, defoliated vines (from early season mildew)… the lot.
There are definite exceptions of course and some will live for an age. Hope to see good wines in a decade too.