This Week's Wine Review.
Saint Clair Awatere Valley Reserve 2009 Noble Riesling
This
week’s wine is worth considering if you want something to enjoy with
your desert. In 2009, Saint Clair’s Blind River Riesling vines in
the Awatere Valley experienced exceptional conditions for consistent
botrytis infection, which is good news for those who enjoy sweet
wines.
To be more specific, the grapes for this wine were sourced from
Blind River Valley, a sub-region of Awatere Valley. The vineyard is
on windblown alluvial soils with a clay base. The vines have been
planted to run north to south and are on vertical shoot positioning
trellising. The exceptional conditions for consistent botrytis
infection meant that the fruit had a full concentration of flavours
and sugars. Botrytis is be one of the very few things that growers
are actually happy to have infecting their crops.
The grapes were hand harvested and whole bunch pressed before being
tank fermented with selected yeasts specially selected to develop
the noble Riesling characters. Fermentation was stopped when the
winemaker determined an ideal balance was reached. The wine
maintains high residual sugar but is balanced by fresh acid.
I found the Saint Clair 2009 Awatere Valley Reserve Noble Riesling
to exhibit aromas reminiscent of stone fruit, citrus and dried
apricot. On the palate, I found delicious flavours of honey, apricot
and peach leading to hints of pineapple and citrus zest in the long,
lingering finish.
This wine is drinking well now but will develop complexity over the
next six to ten years. I would recommend trying it with fruit salad
and cream. Alternatively it will go well with Apple or Apricot pie
and whipped cream.
Reviewed by Stephen Clark (6/9/2010)