Look out for the Taste Top Wine Award stickers on these bottles at supermarkets and selected liquor retailers.
Under $40
Spy Valley 2012 Envoy Johnson Vineyard Riesling, Marlborough $32
Moderately sweet riesling that’s perfectly balanced by taut acidity to give the wine exciting tension. Grapefruit, lime and subtle floral flavours.
Urlar 2016 Noble Riesling, Gladstone (375ml) $33
Rich, honeyed dessert wine with a suggestion of creme brulée/toffee, caramel, dried fig and assorted spices.
Mondillo 2017 Nina Riesling, Central Otago (375ml) $38
Quite a sweet dessert riesling with lime, apricot and honey flavours. Sweetness is balanced by assertive acidity that gives good sweet/sour tension to the wine.
Loop Road 2016 Noble Riesling, Central Otago (375ml) $28
Moderately sweet and reasonably light dessert riesling with honeycomb, citrus/lime and tree fruit/apricot flavours. Serve well chilled as an aperitif.
$40 and over
Pegasus Bay 2016 Encore Noble Riesling, Waipara (375ml) $40
Concentrated, luscious dessert wine with bush honey, pineapple, ginger and ripe peach flavours. A strong botrytis influence doesn’t mask the wine’s varietal definition.
Framingham 2017 Noble Riesling, Marlborough (375ml) $40
Luscious wine with honey, peach, tropical fruits and a suggestion of floral character with restrained acidity.
Framingham 2017 F-Series Auslese Riesling, Marlborough (375ml) $45
Rich and weighty riesling with good clean honeyed botrytis character and Golden Queen peach flavours. Lovely acidity helps build real tension in the wine.
Framingham 2017 F-Series Beerenauslese Riesling, Marlborough (375ml) $69.99
Intensely sweet, aromatic riesling with great weight and intensity held together by a lovely line of acidity. Very pure with honey from botrytis but still showing good varietal character with tropical and tree fruit flavours.