TN: 2009 Skillogalee Riesling, Clare Valley

[n4sir]

2009 Skillogalee Riesling, Clare Valley (screwcap): Bright green/straw. Sweet/mineraly nose with blossom/juicyfruit and a touch of lychee that’s ever so slightly lifted; with breathing there’s some soursob and maybe a bit of model airplane glue in there too. The palate starts with a sucker-punch: a soft entry followed by a roundhouse wallop of acid and sweet citrus fruit that borders into the tropical/lychee category, the puckery acid continuing through to the slatey/slightly steely finish with some apricot and bacon on the rebound, becoming pithy with breathing. Lots of odd angles with this one right now, but it could be a sleeper like the 2002 Knappstein Hand Picked Riesiling.

Cheers,
Ian

[Nayan]

Thanks for the note Ian. I tried this at the Australian Trade Tasting in London last week.

Broadly agree with your notes, but in addition I thought it had all the florality that seems to be the hallmark of the 09 Clare Rieslings; a vintage I love, but think would prefer in their youth.