Riesling round-up

South African Riesling doesn’t get a lot of airtime but there’s increasingly good drinking to be had from this category. Here are four examples all from Elgin encountered recently that are worth seeking out:

Energy drink.

Saurwein Chi 2018
Wine Cellar price: R190
Lime, green apple and a subtle herbal note on the nose. Lean in the best sense with driving acidity – lovely fruit purity before a bone-dry finish. So very focussed.

Editor’s rating: 92/100.

Paul Cluver 2017
Approximate retail price: R110
The nose shows some floral fragrance, green apple, lime and spice while the palate shows great balance between residual sugar and acidity. 20% fermented in large oak fermenters. Alcohol: 10.9%.

Editor’s rating: 91/100.

Lothian Vineyards 2017
Approximate retail price: R105
The nose has an attractive reductive quality to go with green apple, lime and spice. The palate is light-bodied with well-integrated acidity, the finish nicely savoury. Alcohol: 12.5%.

Editor’s rating: 90/100.

90
Oak Valley Stone & Steel 2018
Wine Cellar price: R95
Some floral fragrance plus lime on the nose. The palate is super-lean with clean fruit, bracing acidity and a pithy finish. Alcohol: 12.32%.

Editor’s rating: 90/100.

Find our South African wine ratings database here.