Score: 88/100
Saint Clair Family Estate winery is one of the most famous and respected producer in New Zealand, acknowledged in particular for the quality of their aromatic grape varieties, uncluding Sauvignon Blanc.
The winery’s Premium Range represents the core-brand range, offering the producer’s savoir-faire at a reasonable price.
2015 vintage was particularly favorable and qualitative for Kiwi wines, as the review of the 2015 Saint Clair Premium Sauvignon Blanc demonstrated.
Grapes for the Premium Riesling reviewed here were sourced from several different vineyard sites around the famous Marlborough region: Dog Point, Omaka and Brancott valleys.
This is a tank-fermented Riesling, blended for balance from various lots.
So how good is 2015 Saint Clair Premium Riesling?
The answer is in the tasting notes:
The wine comes in a medium-intensity lemon-yellow color, with slight green hues.
Aromas on the nose are intense, dominated by confit and fresh lemon notes. There’s a bit of a smooth grassiness smell in it as well, like acacia leaves and a little freshly-cut grass. Rather exuberant to smell, but not over the top.
In contrast, the palate is powerfully acidic and an in-your-face explosion of an acidic taste and a burst of flavors.
The grassy notes here are strong, and the wine’s medium body struggles to contain the zingy acidity. A little vegetal bitterness and sulphuric (from Sulphur dioxide aka SO2) finish.
Overall
A good well-made New Zealand Riesling, in a typical Marlborough style filled with exuberant citrus savors and much grassy characters.
Which food to pair it with?
A wine to pair with lively and joy foods like tapas and sea food in creamy sauces to coat some of the acidity out and freshen up dishes with the lively (frantic) dance of the wine’s flavors.
Please let me know your thoughts