Mystery Marlborough Riesling 2018 (03)

Description

• Off-dry style
• Citrus lime
• Subtle stonefruit
• Fresh acidity

"Gorgeously styled and elegantly fragrant, the bouquet shows nectarine, lemon peel, green apple and blossom aromas. The palate displays excellent fruit purity and focus, wonderfully complemented by whispering sweetness and bright acidity, offering excellent balance and harmony with a lengthy vibrant finish. Style: Off-dry. At its best: now to 2028" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"What a great bouquet of Riesling - citrus peel, especially orange, apricot skin, flowers, apples and a whisper of lime. Fresh and lively on the palate with flavours that mirror the nose, detailed - orange, lemon, apple, lime, a core of mineral wet stone and deliciousness. Just lovely" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier

This Kiwi-style Riesling is a delicate off dry wine made in a deliciously juicy fruit driven style. Very pure, citrus/lime and subtle stonefruit flavours. Intense, concentrated and harmonious with that perfect balance of ripe fruit sweetness, fresh acidity, drying minerality and long long finish. Good today; but better many tomorrows hence.

The grapes for this Mystery Riesling are grown on two distinctly different sites in Marlborough. The first being gravel rich, free draining and devigourating soil profile, giving citrus flavours, fine acidity, low pH and most interestingly an amazing minerality. The second, on geologically older soil of crushed rock mixed with a portion of clay, gives a much more exotic fruit flavour profile – stone fruit, citrus, spice and a distinctive “biscuity” minerality.

It was a challenging year, especially from veraison (early February) to harvest (late March) due to unseasonable heavy and warm rain events. Spring growth conditions were excellent, early December flowering conditions ideal and summer balmy – all looked set for a cracking vintage; maybe 7-10 days early – but that’s not a bad thing. However the change in weather from February had us on our toes watching for botrytis infection and praying to the weather gods for a break in the rain.

Harvest began eary on the 7th of March, with fruit flavours and grape health looking good, however, the detailed 10-day weather forecast showed dark clouds and prolonged rain moving in once again. An ideal weather window post-rain and some good Spring winds managed to dry out the canopies and finish the season perfectly for late harvest and botrytis varieties.