Clare & Tasmania Riesling and Hunter & Barossa Valley Semillon
drinks' very own Publishing Editor, Ashley Pini, and frequent wine show judge and Marketing Manager - Hardys at Accolade Wines, Travis Fuller, recently compared the rich and steely rieslings of Clare Valley and Tasmania and the citrus-led and toasty semillons of the Hunter and Barossa Valley.
Their goal was to select wines that represented both the style of the region and the characteristics unique to the varietal. A tough task with a stellar line-up, but they were not defeated.
“Clare Valley riesling is typically crisp and dry, displaying richness and lemon and lime flavours in good years,” Fuller said. “There should be good line and length on the palate and acidity to provide drive to the finish. Tasmania riesling on the other hand tends to have finer mineral, steely, citrus and floral flavours.”
Pini added, “Hunter Valley semillon is often fermented bone-dry and bottled early; relatively low in alcohol with great natural acidity.
“The tasting highlighted just how good the samples from both the Hunter and Barossa are, with the primary difference being the amount each produces. While there were fewer examples from the South Australian region, the quality was up there with the best.”
Clare Valley Riesling
Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling 2016
Cellar door price: $28
Distributor: Fine Wine Partners
Notes of lime and citrus blossom linger on the nose. The palate is tight, fine and concentrated with great lime juice and lemon flavours and a long finish.
Woodvale Skilly Riesling 2014
RRP: $30
Distributor: La Cantina for SA and Woodvale Vintners for the rest of the country
This wine has aromas of lime, blossom, minerals and talc. On the palate, flavours of lemon and lime are carried by salivating acidity and met with a wet stone note on the finish. There is great structure and finesse to this wine.
Taylors St Andrews Riesling 2016
RRP: $35
Distributor: Taylors Wines
A wine full of lemon citrus both on the nose and palate. The flow is impeccable with tightly wound acidity recurring through powerful fruit concentration.
Tasmania Riesling
Eddystone Point Riesling 2015
RRP: $25
Distributor: Accolade Wines
A nose full of mineral, citrus and talc notes. There is some lime juice flavour through the citrusy palate. It is structured, yet with a generosity to boot.
Holm Oak Riesling 2015
RRP: $25
Distributor: Single Vineyard Sellers
A very Germanic-style of riesling with floral, mineral and exotic notes. The wine is textured and tight. The palate is superb and complex. Buy some!
Bay of Fires Riesling 2016
RRP: $30
Distributor: Accolade Wines
The wine has lemon zest and mineral aromas. The palate is quite explosive and concentrated. There are citrus and mineral flavours to a long, long, long finish!
Hunter Valley Semillon
Torbreck Woodcutter’s Semillon 2015
RRP: $18.50
Distributor: Torbreck Vintners
Complex aromas of smoked almonds and honeysuckle as well as buttery textures from the natural malolactic fermentation. The palate displays a spicy mineral flintiness with exotic fruit flavours.
Henschke Louis Semillon 2014
RRP: $33
Distributor: Fine Wine Partners
Complex aromas of lemon and lime zest, freshly cut grass, green apple and almond blossom. Rich and textural, the palate shows flavours of citrus, stone-fruit and green apples. Restrained power and intensity provide both length and longevity.
Peter Lehmann Wines Margaret Semillon 2010
RRP: $35
Distributor: Casella Family Brands
There are superb lemon and citrus flavours and this wine is still a baby at six years old! The palate is powerful and still tight.
Barossa Valley
Audrey Wilkinson Semillon 2016
RRP: $22
Distributor: Agnew Wines
A bright and powerful wine with delicious lemon and lime notes. It is still youthful and has a long finish.
Brokenwood Semillon 2016
RRP: $25
Distributor: Samuel Smith & Son
A vibrant and tight wine with zesty notes and good acidity. This will be a powerful wine with time.
Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon 2011
RRP: $80
Distributor: Tyrrell’s Wines
Power and perfection. Lemon and citrus flavours dance on a youthful palate of texture, toast and tight acidity. A long and lively wine.
Image: Ashley Pini (left) and Travis Fuller (right)
Share the content
