This has been an unusual afternoon, as I consider myself a Riesling
aficionado. I have been working in the world of fine wines for 30 years
or so, and my preferred white wine has always been Riesling.
I opened this wine 24 hours ago, as I do all my wines, so I can watch
They evolve to truly evaluate them.
In the Glass: just a faint hint of lemon yellow, not the green tint I
would have expected from a young wine.
On the Nose: It has taken several hours for the nose to really show
itself. Although faint, I get an almost lanolin lemon hint, which I expect
with age will develop into more of a Meyer lemon scent.
In the Glass: This is where the journey started 24 hours ago, when I
first opened the bottle. I found a spritz mid-palate that persisted for
several hours. With time, that spritz developed into a sharp, bitter
lemon taste hitting the sides of the tongue. Now 24 hours later, the
wine has transformed to a soft, bitter lemon character, now hitting the
front palate.
There has been a continuous movement backward and forward
across the palate all afternoon. Now my tongue is coated with fresh
young lemon, filling my nostrils. I have wrestled with whether I like it
or not. I can clearly state this wine has changed my thoughts about
Gippsland Riesling.
I am personally tucking six bottles of this Riesling away in the cellar
and watching it evolve, revealing its true potential.
Michael Lillis
Michael Lillis
Wine consultant
I enjoyed the wine with the best prawn sushi from a Japanese
restaurant in Ferrars Street, South Melbourne.
