Esk Valley, Marlborough Dry Riesling 2010, New Zealand
Marlborough on New Zealand’s South Island has become synonymous with one grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc. But other varieties are growing and prospering in Marlborough too, and now there is a concerted effort by many producers to celebrate diversity, with varieties including Riesling. This from the excellent Esk Valley has a salty lick of minerals on the nose, over lemon and apple fruit, with a complex but discreet appeal. On the palate it bursts into juicy life, with a great weight of sweet fruit and texture, and a perhaps just, just off-dry style. It fills the mouth with ripe, almost tropical fruit and its weighty personality, but then a lovely core of juicy lemon and grapefruit pulls everything tightly together in the finish. 10.45, Cambridge Wine Merchants, WoodWinters, Slurp.co.uk.
