Monday, March 21, 2011

KARRA YERTA RIESLING 2010

- Eden Valley, SA
- $25
- Screwcap
- 12.5%alc

If there's such a thing as a blogger's favourite, then Karra Yerta Riesling may well be it. Messrs Coldrey, Graham and Pringle have had more good things to say about this wine than Eddie McGuire at a Nathan Buckley testimonial.

Quite simply, Karra Yerta's Riesling reflects a special vineyard that's clearly planted to the right variety. Made from 80 year old vines, it's elegantly scented with a classically austere fragrance of pebbles, mineral and chalk, given a perfumed lift by limey florals as well as a pinch of pear for good measure. On the palate however, it speaks volumes, by pumping an incredibly sumptuous depth of pure and youthful Eden Valley riesling flavour, honouring the amount of time its vineyard source has spent tapping into Mother Earth. It's utterly pristine and borderline transparent in the clarity of its saturated mineral and white pear flavour, but like a lot of the region's top 2010s, it thrusts into gear on a very long, wickedly limey finish, peppering the mouth with nuances of chalk and glistening acids which penetrate with searing precision. The whole package is remarkably well defined.

ü+ Distributors, sommeliers and independent retailers should take note; Karra Yerta's is as fine an impression of 2010 Eden Valley riesling as I've had. Drink to 2025.
95 points


8 comments:

  1. Thank you so much, Chris:) That is such an awesome review:) Can't wait to show James (who is at the vineyard as I type, inspecting this year's crop, of which I am wondering if we will ever pick!:)
    Cheers
    Marie
    PS love the attention to detail of the photo:)

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  2. I am just going to have to open it now and hope that Marie was serious about holding back another mini-vertical for me to drink in 5 years.

    Nice note Chris.

    Stu

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  3. Hey Stu,
    Indeed I was! You just have to remind me, but the big red letters 'STU', written on the top of the carton, may help me:) And you can have it for $150 because you pre-ordered when I first released them:)
    Cheers
    Marie

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  4. Marie and Stu,

    Thanks on all accounts :)

    And Stu, go on, open it, and join the chorus of wine bloggers singing the praises of Karra Yerta Riesling - wonderful wine it is!

    Cheers,
    CP

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  5. I just pulled 12 bottles out of storage for the comming cooler months. 11 red, 1 white. Karra Yerta Rizza has the honour :)

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  6. I know exactly where you're coming from Stu :) There's something about the acidity of good riesling that just seems to cut through winter's cold.

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  7. Despite the best efforts, we will not produce a riesling in 2011, so this one is even more special now. Bring on 2012!
    Cheers
    Marie

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  8. Terribly sorry to hear that Marie, as I'm sure the rest of the Eden Valley riesling loving public would be. :(

    I sincerely hope the rest of your 2011 vintage fruit turns out some better results for the beautiful Karra Yerta brand.

    Kind regards,
    Chris Plummer

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