Tasmania 9.5% Screwcap $24 Source: Retail
I’ve found myself wondering of late whether or not Australian producers can produce off-dry Rieslings which stand up in the company of those wonders from Mosel or even the upstarts from New Zealand with their natural acidity and thier ability to balance fruit and a shipload of sugar. This is not a question of whether or not we can make “the same” wines, rather it’s about this country’s ability to get results which are of a similar quality/price ratio…and where the best places might be to head down this exploratory track. Because, god knows, a lot of wineries from all over our large island are now dabbling with the off-dry style.
So far, this effort from Frogmore Creek has made the most persuasive argument to me. No real surprise that a Tasmanian Riesling would take that position…the coolness of climate alone is unmatched on the mainland (well maybe Macedon?). It’s handpicked, half from vineyards in Southern Tasmania, half from the North. 53g/l rs which I guess, from the bottle, would work out to be about 40g/750ml…I haven’t done the math – but that’s what FGR stands for.
Descriptors? Apples, slightly over-ripe pear, citrus blossom florals, lemon sherbet, hints of peach fuzz & mango pulp. Slightly spritzy in the glass and that works to enhance the feel in the mouth. There is a hint of sugar under the lemon sherbet but the balance is excellent and it feels right. Zippy and delicious with tart green apple skin on the back palate before finishing quite miraculously clean and dry. But forget actual fruits & florals etc. The balance of fruit, acid and residual sweetness is perfect. I would consider buying this instead of, say, a Dr Loosen Bernkaster Lay. And that’s a start.
Winery Website- http://www.frogmorecreek.com.au/