Last Year – Yes way back in October 2010 I attended the Nelson Wineart New Releases Tasting event at the Issac Theatre Royal in Christchurch. There I met the lovely Ursula Schwarzenbach from Blackenbrook Vineyard – Ursula had a great line up of their wines on the night but unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to taste them all.
I’ve kept in touch on Facebook and Twitter and it was a nice surprise when Ursula sent down three Blackenbrook aromatics to for me to review on my Blog – 2010 Pinot Gris, 2010 Muscat and this wine that I am reveiwing here – 2009 Nelson Riesling.
I’m really becoming a big fan of New Zealand Riesling especially those from Waipara and more recently from Central Otago, so it was great to be able to taste something new from Nelson…
The wine was quite pale straw coloured, and in the nose quite lifted with floral, lime pith/zest and mineral notes. On the palate there’s an initial sweetness followed by a succulent fresh lemon-lime acidity that ends in a long, dry mineral finish. With such intense fruit flavours and acid structure, 12.5 % alcohol and 15 grams residual sugar I think this will age beautifully into one of those great honey / kerosene Rieslings that I really love… Gorgeous wine and rated highly by Sam Kim and Micheal Cooper too.
I rated the Blackenbrook Nelson Riesling 2009 18/20 ( 90/100)
To find out more about Blackenbrook Vineyard, visit their new website and buy some of this – I recommend if you like a Riesling with some “pizazz” you’ll love this – I did.