This batch of Central Otago rieslings showed just how well the variety can do here, some of the different styles, and what good value it can be.
BEST VALUE
$20
Four stars (out of five)
Good value
A fresh young wine with floral aromas, suggestions of nectarine and orange blossom, a hint of sweetness and a steely backbone to keep you on your toes. It will develop with bottle age.
$24
Four stars
Average value
An unusual wine with oak aging to give it complexity, structure and a hint of nuttiness. It's mouth-filling with suggestions of lime, mineral and biscuits, and has a fresh dry, harmonious finish.
$25
Four stars
Average value
A powerful wine, weighty and textural in the mouth with hints of lime flowers and marmalade, and a lively fresh, dry finish. It will develop with more bottle age - maybe for 5 or 8 years.
$32
Four and a half stars
Average value
With hints of honey, dried apricot and almonds, a suggestion of marmalade and a steely, mineral undertone, this is medium sweet but with a lovely balanced acidity on the finish. At three years old it is drinking well but will continue to develop.
$30
Four and a half stars
Average value
At three years old this is fragrant with hints of lime flowers and citrus, intense in the mouth and has an enlivening steely backbone. A naturally lower alcohol (7.9%) wine and medium sweet but with a dry finish. A must for aficionados.
$22
Three and a half stars
Average value
''Geevee'' is a trendy new wine, originally from Austria, and versatile with food. This is broad, mouth-filling, with hints of mineral and almond, a savoury undertone and textural, dry finish.
ANOTHER GLASS
Waipara Hills Waipara Riesling 2012
$22
Three and a half stars
Average value
Hints of lime and peaches with ripe, almost tropical fruit, a lovely citrus tang and lively intensity with hint of marmalade on the fresh finish.
waiparahillswines.co.nz
Spice Trail Hot
$20
Three stars
Average value
Spice Trail is a new brand of wines blended especially to go with spicy Asian food which are notoriously difficult to pair successfully with most wine. They are mainly available in restaurants.
This, for hot, spicy dishes, is a blend of riesling, gruner veltliner, and gewürztraminer. It's fresh with a hint of mineral and apple, a light sweetness and dryish finish.
Simple but not bad with a chilli-spiked dish.
