Grove Mill Riesling 2004 (Marlborough, NZ)
Orange and lime zest on the nose with a little spice and minerality,
off dry in the mouth with plenty of ripe fruit, good acidity to
balance the residual sugar, and a clean, refreshing finish. Excellent.

Framingham Classic Riesling 2002 (Marlborough, NZ)
Peach, lime and citrus zest on the nose, off dry palate with moderate
acidity and a clean finish. A little simple, not that much complexity
to it but no complaints, a very enjoyable accompaniment with food.
Good.

Dom. Martin Schaetzel Riesling Schlossberg 2003 (Alsace, France)
Gorgeous nose on this - slightly oily character with lovely floral
aromas, some spice, lime and citrus fruit. Lots more fruit and
minerals in the mouth, plenty of acidity and a long, precise finish.
Exceptional.

Waipara Springs Riesling 2004 (Waipara, NZ)
Floral, peach and lime aromas on the nose, off dry with pleasant
citrus fruit flavours in the mouth. Decent acidity on this, just
enough to balance the residual sugar and a crisp, refreshing finish.
Very good, bordering on excellent.

Stoneleigh Riesling 2004 (Marlborough, NZ)
A delight to just swirl & sniff - citrus, peach, smoke and petrol on
the nose, minerally character, more peach/citrus/smoke flavours in the
mouth with lots of acidity and a long finish. Excellent, bordering on
exceptional. [Addendum: One of the best QPR picks I've ever come
across. This cost no more than 15 USD, and it's a real stunner.]

Prager Riesling Smagard "Wachstum Toni Bodenstein" 2004 (Wachau,
Austria)
Very minerally - stony, peach and citrus aromas, dry palate with peach/
pear flavours in the mouth, lots of acidity and a clean, smooth
finish. Excellent.

"Salil" > wrote:

> Prager Riesling Smagard

"Smaragd" (= Emerald)

> "Wachstum Toni Bodenstein" 2004 (Wachau, Austria)

Anton "Toni" Bodenstein is Franz Prager's son-in-law, married to
Prager's daughter Ilse.

> Very minerally - stony, peach and citrus aromas, dry palate with
> peach/ pear flavours in the mouth, lots of acidity and a clean,
> smooth finish. Excellent.

"Wachstum Bodenstein" usually is among Prager's very top offerings
(and as such world-class by any standards).

M.

Thanks for the translations/info on the name etymology, Michael.
This was actually the first Austrian Riesling I've had - my experience
with wines from that region has been very limited (with only one or
two good Sauvignon Blancs from there, and a simple/unspectacular
Gruner-Veltliner). Was really impressed, to say the least, and I'll
doubtless be looking for some more Rieslings from the area. Are there
any other producers/outstanding vintages you could recommend?

"Salil" > wrote:

> Thanks for the translations/info on the name etymology, Michael.
> This was actually the first Austrian Riesling I've had - my
> experience with wines from that region has been very limited
> (with only one or two good Sauvignon Blancs from there, and a
> simple/unspectacular Gruner-Veltliner). Was really impressed, to
> say the least, and I'll doubtless be looking for some more
> Rieslings from the area. Are there any other
> producers/outstanding vintages you could recommend?

Well, the top Riesling and Grüner Veltliner producers, apart from
Bodenstein/Prager, are Knoll (Loiben), FX Pichler (Loiben), and
Franz Hirtzberger (Spitz). There are are few tightly behind:
Prager (Weissenkirchen); Rudi Pichler (Wösendorf), Alzinger
(Loiben); and don't forget Freie Weingärtner, possibly the best
white wine cooperative worldwide. Look for their 2005 (and
especially 2006!) offerings.

M.

On Mar 27, 2:17 am, "Salil" > wrote:
> Prager Riesling Smagard "Wachstum Toni Bodenstein" 2004 (Wachau,
> Austria)
> Very minerally - stony, peach and citrus aromas, dry palate with peach/
> pear flavours in the mouth, lots of acidity and a clean, smooth
> finish. Excellent.

Thought I'd bring this topic up again in light of a quite stunning
Riesling that was opened as part of a tasting last night.
This was poured double blind, and most of those present immediately
guessed it to be an Alsace Gewurztraminer.

Pale yellow in the glass with a light body with an incredibly aromatic
nose showing floral, spice, lychee and citrus flavours, with a dry,
minerally palate and lots of acidity with an incredible, precise
finish - not hard to see why so many of us voted that way.

As it turned out, it wasn't a Gewurz, let alone Alsace - but rather
the 2000 Prager Riesling Weissenkirchen Smaragd Achleiten. Was quite
stunned to find that out, particularly given the level of aromaticity
and the way the spice/lychee flavours stood out - and because of the
huge contrast to this Prager.