2016 Charteris Otago Riesling

The fruit – GM110 and GM198-19 clone Riesling – from the Hunt Vineyard was hand-picked on 7th April at 21.0 Brix. Whole bunch-pressed and settled for six days before racking. Inoculated with a neutral Saccharomyces bayanus yeast strain. Fermentation was stopped to leave a small amount of acid-balancing residual sugar. Minimal protein stabilisation. The wine remained on fine yeast lees until bottling on 10th August 2016. Pre- bottling analysis: pH 2.93; 9.3g/L TA; RS 10g/L; alcohol 11.5%.
Subtle floral perfume, more citrus blossom, and the almost tactile smell of windblown Greywacke silt. The faintest lift of crushed Kaffir lime leaf gives a sense of aromatic infinity. Lime, limes and more limes flood the entry to the palate. Then there’s the build of weight and resonance, acidity playing with phenolics playing with extract. Pithy and crunchy acidity with a silky glide of texture driving juicy length and persistence. While quite thirst quenching, be careful because I think the moreish-ness of this wine can only lead to a second bottle. – PJ Charteris