Australian Riesling head and shoulders above New Zealand: Decanter panel(1)

Australian Riesling is infinitely superior to New Zealand's, according to a Decanter panel of eight New World Riesling experts.

Earlier this year the panel tasted 79 Australian and 55 New Zealand Rieslings from a variety of vintages, the majority from 2010 and 2009 with a handful of vintages going back to 2005 and earlier.

The wines came from all Riesling-producing regions of the two countries. The vast majority of Australian wines were from the Adelaide Hills, and Clare and Eden Valleys, while most New Zealand Rieslings were from Marlborough, with a few from Central Otago, Nelson and other regions.

The results were overwhelmingly in Australia’s favour. All of the eight five-star wines were Australian, and 29 of the 37 four-star wines.

During the panel discussion the critics – including the Wine Society’s Australian buyer Pierre Mansour, Luke Robertson, head sommelier of the London’s Michelin-strarred The Ledbury, and consultant David Wainwright – were unanimous: Australian Riesling is ‘compelling’ and ‘absolutely outstanding’.

The panel urged readers to lay the best wines down. ‘They will compare with the great wines of Alsace at a fraction of the price,’ one panellist said.

The five-star wines included Skillogalee, Pikes, Eldredge and Bethany – all except the latter from Clare Valley.

Skillogalee was 'Delicious, complex and multi-dimensional,' the panel said.

[1] [2]