Sunday, January 10, 2010

MITCHELL WATERVALE RIESLING 2009

- Clare Valley, SA
- $15-$22
- Screwcap
- 13.0%alc

Alongside wines like Tahbilk's Marsanne and Mount Pleasant's Elizabeth Semillon, Mitchell's Watervale Riesling is a wonderfully affordable dry white whose long established cellaring record has seen it practically achieve cult status among Australia's drinkers. However, I have noticed a slight increase in the discounted price of Mitchell's Watervale recently, which differs from the other two wines mentioned.

Mitchell's 2009 Watervale Riesling (vines planted 1962) reveals a somewhat closed yet classically tight and floral fragrance of well defined lemon and lime citrus backed by steely suggestions of mineral. Wonderfully edgy in its youthful, pure varietal form, its faintly spicy lemon and pear flavours are beautifully punctuated by a persisting undercarriage of lime juice, before finishing in a more savoury, austere fashion with a bone-dry cut of powdery citric acids.

ü+ For a season laden with mixed results for Clare riesling; this truly regional, tight and dry wine has landed itself right near the top of its class. As usual, the Mitchell's experience and vine maturity has paid dividends. Drink to 2017.
93 points


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