It was International Riesling Day last week and I nearly marked it by stamping my last Riesling tattoo (a transfer, in case it's not obvious) on my forearm, only the tattoo was so dried out that the plan failed. It was the last one of about 100 Riesling transfer/tattoos I bought about a decade ago when the global Riesling movement was having its day. Those of us who dived down the Riesling rabbit hole may never have achieved a global following for this great white grape and the incredibly complex wines it can make, but the quality of Riesling never fails to impress.
The wine in my glass last Wednesday 13 March (this year's International Riesling Day) was the 2015 Taylors St Andrew's Clare Valley Riesling from the eponymous family owned winery in South Australia. Here it is.
Wine of the week
2015 Taylors St Andrew's Clare Valley Riesling RRP $45-ish (from specialist wine stores)
The Taylors winemaking family describe it as hedonistic and at nine years old, it's still a youthful kind of hedonism that can be found in each sip of this dry Riesling with its intense layers of lime aromas that lead into a wine with depth and lightness at the same time. That's what makes this wine so captivating. Its natural crisp acidity gives it drive and length of flavour while the Riesling grape imbues it with intensely citrus aromas and zesty flavours coupled with a hint of honey and white floral aromas.
Stunning now and it will continue to age for at least another decade, depending on how you like your Riesling.
