02/02/2009 – Mount Horrocks, Cordon Cut Riesling 2008

Mount Horrocks (Australia) Cordon Cut Riesling 2008

One of my favourite Australian stickies is still bang on form. Winemaker/Proprietor of Mount Horrocks, Stephanie Toole, makes this dessert Riesling in the Clare Valley by cutting the canes of the vines, but then leaving the bunches hanging there to concentrate naturally as they raisin. In a fantastic vintage for the Clare, this has gorgeous marmalade and honey aromas, a touch of leaf tea and a lime fruitiness underpinning the whole picture. The clarity and quality of the fruit never gets lost amongst the gorgeous sweetness and opulent weight of glycerine richness on the palate. Fantastic stuff. I apologise now for including a wine that bursts through our usual 10 to 12 ceiling for ‘Wine of the Week’ – and this is for a half-bottle – but taste it and you will agree it is a very special wine. £14.99, Virgin Wines, Noel Young, Martinez Wines, Reserve Wines