Riesling has provided me and many other wine lovers with a fabulous hunting ground for labels that vastly outperform their price points. Consider: the pinnacles of Australian Riesling; singular styles recognised internationally; routinely sell for $20-40. Even Hunter Semillon costs more at the top end. Here, though, is a $9.50 Riesling from the Barossa Valley, a region not renowned for the variety. On the plus side, Peter Lehmann is a winery that has a history of solid, well-priced wines.
A forward nose of candied pineapple and other tropical fruits, plus a bit of spice. I'm not getting the "crisp citrus and floral" notes referred to on the back label. Instead, this seems a broader Riesling style. In the mouth, some initially welcome acidity fades as lemon and candied fruit notes take over. These flavours are assertive but lack intensity at the same time. I suspect a level of residual sugar contributes to this flavour profile, though there's nothing overtly sugary about the wine. A dip in intensity through the after palate precedes some bitterness on the rather chalky finish.
A flavoursome quaffer, then, but quite basic too. Stylistically, I'm not very excited. Lovers of crisp, dry Riesling are advised to keep looking.
Price: $A9.50
Closure: Stelvin
Date tasted: August 2008
Excellent TN's again Julian. The Lehmann 2007 riesling seemed to be a real crowd pleaser, but I think people with a greater interest in riesling may have had less time for it. I can go either way to be honest. Broader at $10 can suit me in certain moods. Cheers jeremy
I know what you mean -- sometimes, a fatter style can be just what the doctor ordered. I just wish, in the case of this wine, crowd pleasing didn't also mean a degree of coarseness.
Still, it's a nice quaffer with some thirst-quenching flavours.