Noble Riesling 2018

2018 turned into a great year for sweet wines in Marlborough. After the hottest, driest October, November and December on record we then experienced regular showers during the first three months of 2018, allowing several opportunities for botrytis to get started and work its magic on our Riesling grapes. We retain a few select rows in a Riesling block with a proven record for producing award winning botrytised wines. These rows developed a perfect botrytis influence long after the harvest had been completed in the rest of the vineyard. By the time these grapes were picked on 17 April 2018, earlier than usual, they would have been at least 95% botrytis affected.

After being very carefully and selectively hand-picked at 43.7 brix the grapes were moved to the winery, where they were destemmed and cold soaked for 24 hours. They were then given a slow, gentle pressing to extract the rich, pure juice. After being cold settled this juice was fermented in stainless steel, very slowly at cool temperatures to retain fruit intensity. Fermentation was eventually stopped when the ideal balance was reached between sweetness and alcohol. The wine was eventually bottled on 7 February 2019

This wine has a vibrant, pale to mid gold colour. On the nose it is instantly appealing with a myriad of clearly defined aromas: notably honey-suckle, dried apricots and peaches, caramel, marzipan, marmalade and exquisite garden florals and spices. Despite its sweetness and richness it also has clearly defined varietal characters.

On the palate it is rich and mouth-coating with apricots, ripe peaches, citrus, mango, passion-fruit, cinnamon, honey, toffee and mixed spices.  The precise acid balance, mouth-feel and deceptive sweetness all contribute towards a sensational wine with elegance, refinement and clear varietal characters. This is a sensual wine that lingers beautifully and seductively in the mouth. It will continue to develop and age gracefully for many years to come, becoming richer and more complex as it ages.

Technical Notes

Alcohol: 9.6%                    Acidity: 6.8                   PH: 3.39                         Residual Sugar:    187 gm.

Trophies & Medals

Gold Medal & Trophy Marlborough Wine Show Oct 2019

Gold Medal NZIWS Oct 2019

Gold Medal NZ Wine of the Year Awards Oct 2019

2nd Top Sweet Wine Cuisine 2019

Reviews

A spectacular sweet wine; the gloriously fragrant bouquet shows orange peel, honey, marmalade, mixed spice and dried flower characters, leading to a concentrated palate that is superbly weighted and persistent. It is wonderfully sweet and unctuously delicious, backed by bright acidity, finishing impressively long and gratifying. At its best: now to 2025. 375ml. $35.00.  96/100

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, October 2019

Subtle at first, giving an impression that it might be drier. That guess is immediately dispelled by the rush of sweetness and unctuousness on the palate, whipped into line by a shaft of vibrant acidity giving this real piquancy. Dripping with honey and citrus yet deliciously vibrant, flowing to a long, racy, lip- smacking close. Excellent to Outstanding                                                            

Mark Henderson. Otago Daily Times, Nov 2019

With 187g/l of residual sugar, marginally less luscious than the 2016, but beautifully toasty and full of lime marmalade. The palate is so rich and creamy, full of honey and Botrytis richness and yet that Botrytis element to give a drier character to the finish, so sweet and yet so well balanced.  94/100

 Tom Cannavan. Wine-Pages.com. May 2020