CHARLIE SAYS
2024 Rieslingfreak No.3 $30 Dollars 11.5%
Riesling is often overlooked, seen as simple wine all about acid and citrus with a crisp finish, but that is simply not true. Australia is the second biggest grower of Riesling, behind Germany, and we have more unique and interesting Riesling than ever before. Winemakers John and Belinda Hughes dedicate their entire wine-making exploits to around 18 styles of uniquely Australian Riesling, some of which are only made if the growing conditions and fruit quality meet their standard. Each bottle has their abridged mission statement, ‘Reverence of Riesling’, which describes in clear terms what you can expect from each bottle.
No.3 is a dry style that comes from their Clare Valley family-owned vineyard located in White Hutt, not too far from the main town Clare. Initially the No.3 has a focused nose of apples, lemon and lime, lemon curd and a lovely chalky citrus pith character. There is bright acid on the palette, with fresh red apples (specifically Jazz apples) and grapefruit, followed by a floral, stone fruit and slate mineral finish. I found this wine to get more complex, structured and a lot less tight as it got slightly warmer in the glass bringing a more generous aroma, so take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before you drink. The careful stirring of lees has given this wine an added level of texture and structure, as well as that lovely lemon curd characteristic, while still keeping the wine fresh and lively.
Pair with: cheese and charcuterie, go for fatty cured meats and fatty cheeses. For dinner delicate herbed white fish with roasted potatoes and green beans or asparagus all cooked with a bit too much butter.
GRANT SAYS
Seghesio Langhe Nebbiolo 2021 RRP $56, ABV 14%
A couple of months ago Seddon Wine Store hosted a free wine tasting event on a sunny Saturday afternoon so I popped my ‘wine nerd’ hat on and arrived at the starting time of 2pm. SHARP. They generously showcased close to 30 different wines from all over the world, each with its own story and specific reasoning for lining up in the list. This Langhe Nebbiolo was my favourite. It was explained to me that it has a rather good portion of Barolo fruit added to the blend. Barolo attracts some of the highest prices for red wine world wide, so my ears pricked up when I heard this. Most Barolo’s though require an enormous amount of cellaring due to the extremely high tannin in the grape. This is why the Langhe Nebbiolo is considered Barolo’s kinder, gentler, more approachable younger sibling and is far more conducive to earlier drinking. Its classic “tar and roses” flavour profile takes you straight to the north of Italy and commands an array of wonderful food pairings. The tannin is structured and although it appears a lighter style, it still packs a punch with chewy texture, powerful aromatics and an incredible length. Decant this wine and let it breathe for a good couple of hours and relish in how the flavour profile will change as you enjoy a good couple of glasses.
Pair with: Antipasto platter of bresaola, sopressa, Sicilian olive, artichoke heart, grissini, semi-dried tomato, smoked cheddar, melted parmigiano Reggiano and bruschetta with salty anchovy.
