Reasoned Riesling Reactionaries

Nothing is beyond the  repertoire of armchair activists such as ourselves here at Empty. That's right, we said it, armchair activists.  Bugger that, while Germany, is and always will be one of leaders  for propagating the quality of the wino's favourite grape we have to all dust ourselves off and realise, the Aussies really have led the charge on getting Riesling noticed. Not mentioning them, is by our books, rather uncool. So we did what any self respecting wino aficionado would do. We answered the four questions we shouted at our computers in the wee hours of this morning. Where's Australia? Where's Austria? Where's Alsace? Where's the Kiwi's? (Also watch out for some of the Riesling that sadly doesn't make the Irish market; USA, Chilean etc.)

• Fritsch 2009 Riesling - Wagram Region (€14.99): Classic Riesling, dry, with a healthy dose of that "Petroleum" note, something I am more comfortable calling an intense minerality that permeates the fruits and herbs of a wine. And guess what? This wine has plenty of those. It walks a very stylish line between an assertive expression and elegant touch that is subtly alluring. Really a very  serious wine that sits ready, almost paradoxically, to be tippled at any point. There are few ways you could go about this wine and not enjoy it. (Value 5/5; Score 9/10 - Rob) 

• Trimbach, 2008 Riesling - Alsace (€16.95-€18.99); Red Apple, slightly waxed fruit with sharp acidity. This is really something of a regal wine, really and truly displaying the finesse of its terroir, well rounded, minerality providing the right balance with the wine.  The only question that will plague you with this wine is how you are going to age some of it, answer is you are going to need nerves matched by the steely acidity of the wine. Really something of an neglected jewel in the french wine crown sadly. (Value 4.5/5; Score 8.5/10 - Rob) 

• Wakefield Estate 2009 Riesling - Clare Valley (€12.99-€15): At a recent wine tasting I was raving about a particular wine and this sexy little number just happened to be one of them. Seductive to the core and I was delighted to discover it was a Riesling that had enticed me previously. On the nose the wine displayed, orange rind, peach, intensely floral and awash with grapefruit and pineapple. Delicious with a very long crisp finish that lingers on the palate. A truly great example of a wine that far exceeds its price point. (9.5/10)

• Whitehaven, 2009 Riesling – Marlborough (€12.99, currently on offer at €10.39): The best way to describe this wine; Mosel Valley finding itself in New Zealand. Intense aromas of honey suckle on the nose with lime and intermingling to form a palate that is a dense mix of almost off dry fruits that transforms into an intense finish of lime. Truly a wine for the outdoors … in the very brief moments that the sun appears, otherwise try it with some Thai food. (8.5/10)

Rob and Shane at an undisclosed location