PICK OF THE BUNCH
1. Sweet spot
2016 FRAMINGHAM WINES ‘SELECT’ MARLBOROUGH RIESLING $35 It’s impossible to discuss NZ riesling without mentioning Framingham, whose amazing winemaker Andrew Hedley is responsible for many of its most delicious examples. This is a later-harvested wine, richly intense, pure, poised and perfect. Savour slowly.
2. Southern star
2016 MAUDE ‘MT MAUDE VINEYARD’ DRY CENTRAL OTAGO RIESLING $25 Wanaka-based Maude Wines makes a wonderful array of wines, with two excellent rieslings. This dry version is fresh with delicate apple blossom and citrus notes leading to a crunchy, tangy, very finely balanced palate. If you’d fancy a sweeter version, their East Block is equally good.
3. Dry delight
2016 TE WHARE RA ‘SV5182 D’ MARLBOROUGH RIESLING $28 From an organically grown vineyard, this is a lively wine, perfumed with limes, summer herbs and Granny Smith apples; dry, crunchy and taut with lovely texture and length.
4. Pure and pretty
2016 TWO RIVERS OF MARLBOROUGH ‘JULIET’ MARLBOROUGH RIESLING $20 Clean and crisp with sweet limes and honeysuckle, this is a subtle, medium-dry wine with lovely tension between fruit intensity and acidity. Try with snapper in citrus beurre blanc.
5. Bargain buy
2015 GIESEN ESTATE MARLBOROUGH RIESLING $15 A lighter-bodied, pretty style; with citrus and white flower notes, it’s medium-dry with a juicy, succulent palate. Match with a Thai prawn salad.