Diletti is the barrel-fermented star in the Castle Rock Riesling range, and I think it’s a challenging wine. Unlike the pure perfection of the Castle Rock Estate Riesling, this is less obvious and also less pretty, especially as it spends ten months in old wood. I still think the barrel character is a bit obvious, stirring in more vanilla popcorn and white peach barrel/ees white peach shade over the delicacy. But the palate profile is excellent – the oak is mainly on the nose, and the palate has an unmistakable chewy depth – a real grapefruit pith tang, but also Riesling in all its proudness. I like that this wine exists and admire the whole textural depth behind it, even if it’s not obviously seductive. You know what else? It’s cheap. Warm applause from me.
- Best drinking: I'd be keen to see this with five years more age on it. Even another 18 months.
- Score (out of 20): 18
- Score (out of 100): 93
- Alcohol %: 12
- RRP (in $AUD): 38
- Winery website: https://castlerockestate.com.au/
- Would I buy it?: a few glasses
THE VERDICT
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