30 January 2010

MORE RIESLINGS

I lunched at a downtown restaurant yesterday and being totally virtuous my friend and I each ordered a glass of riesling (rather than a bottle of wine) to accompany our meal. She went for a glass of the Rippon 2008 at $16, while I chose the Greenhough Hope Vineyard 2008 for $12. The difference was extraordinary. Rippon vineyard is on the shores of Lake Wanaka in Central Otago and has an awesome reputation for carefully bio-dynamic viticulture and the winemaker is passionate about his wines. It was a good, nicely balanced riesling that was well rounded with a light bouquet. The Greenhough riesling, from another passionate winemaker who makes his wines on the fringes of Nelson, would have won hands down if this was a contest. The wine exhibited everything that a perfect riesling should. Incredibly aromatic, I could have sat there just sniffing the deliciously delicate layers of fruit and spices forever, rather than drinking this wine. It was at once a little minerally, citrusy and slightly sweet yet not at all sugary. Both great wines with formidable reputations that I would recommend. But as one was 33% more expensive than the other, I’d go for the Greenhough again and again. As my friend did, for she thought it was so enchanting that she ordered a glass too.