Pewsey Vale Riesling 2012

[Waiters Friend]

G'day

I buy a case of this each year, drinking a few young, and allowing the remainder to age. I then drink approximately one per year until they run out. At the moment, the oldest PV in the cellar is 2003 - not coincidentally, the vintage where PV switched (back) to screwcaps.

I've been doing this since about 1997, which was lauded at the time as a superb Eden Valley riesling vintage. The 2012 vintage is being talked of in similarly superlative terms.

The wine is a very pale yellow / straw in colour and crystal clear. The nose is pristine. Fabulously pure lemon and lime, with a hint of talc and florals. The palate is clean and fresh, with a lovely stream of acid supporting the lemon/lime in a long finish.

This is definitely a step up from last year's, and reminds me that great drinking can be had (especially with riesing) for well under $20. Long may it continue. This is also the classic 'each way bet' - lovely drinking now, but will age superbly.

Cheers

Allan

[dlo]

Remember the hype over the 1997 vintage, too, Alan, particularly over Clare Rieslings. I believe Orlando fared much better with their Eden Valley pair - St. Helga and Steingarten. Most of my 1997 Clare Valley's fell over within five years. Jeff Grosset's offerings were variable in bottle and you never knew what you were going to get. His Polish Hill was a fast developer and I recall that over about a ten year period about one in two was undrinkable.

Thanks for the note on the 2012 PV. I'll find one, if still in the shops, and give it a try.

[Thommo]

The 2012 Pewsey is excellent, and a head and shoulders above similarly priced offerings from the Clare (as is the Heggies). I reckon Eden had a much better 2012 than Clare as far as riesling was concerned, indeed I have preferred the 2011 Clares over the 2012s so far.

[SueNZ]

G'day

I buy a case of this each year, drinking a few young, and allowing the remainder to age. I then drink approximately one per year until they run out. At the moment, the oldest PV in the cellar is 2003 - not coincidentally, the vintage where PV switched (back) to screwcaps.

I've been doing this since about 1997, which was lauded at the time as a superb Eden Valley riesling vintage. The 2012 vintage is being talked of in similarly superlative terms.

The wine is a very pale yellow / straw in colour and crystal clear. The nose is pristine. Fabulously pure lemon and lime, with a hint of talc and florals. The palate is clean and fresh, with a lovely stream of acid supporting the lemon/lime in a long finish.

This is definitely a step up from last year's, and reminds me that great drinking can be had (especially with riesing) for well under $20. Long may it continue. This is also the classic 'each way bet' - lovely drinking now, but will age superbly.

Cheers

Allan

Tasted this last night in Auckland and your note echoes mine, or does mine echo yours? Except I had lemonade /lime - lemonade is a fruit in the citrus family, a lemon/mandarin cross I believe. But I got the talc and the florals, and as well a suggestion of spritz. Lovely wine. Delicate to start but expands in the palate and the finish is weighty and long. I can see this wine going 20 years. Price here about $NZ20.

Cheers,
Sue Courtney