Hanlin Hill Riesling

Pale to mid yellow in colour. The wine was a little cold to begin with. Aromas of talc and lime marmalade, dried flowers - a faint paraffin note - No Kerosene or petrol (TDN). A beautiful aged Riesling from the Clare Valley from Petaluma - a long time favourite producer of Riesling. With air and warming up, some yellow peach notes developing. I see HH said this benefits from decanting which I didn’t do. Drinking at its peak. Sadly my last 2012.

Alive and kicking.

See previous notes for the 2011 vintage. Hints of kerosene and lime. On the palate M+ intensity and excellent persistence. The following night a more fulsome body with grapefruit and citrus. A great result for the difficult wet 2011 vintage in South Australia. A truly excellent mature Clare Valley Riesling.

A trace of cumquat together with dried white flowers, talc some toast together with citrus. A superb 10 year old Clare Valley Riesling from a quality producer in a good vintage. No TDN Kerosene notes.

When you have a class Clare Valley Riesling there’s an argument for saying that you should have the first one at 10 years of age. This was a mid lemon in colour - lovely aromatics with white florals and petrol starting to dominate. Still up to 5 years in front of it I think. Lime and grapefruit on the palate with M minus acid.

One of the pleasures in life is having a 10 year old Clare Valley Riesling. Had the last one a year ago in August 2020. This time some kerosene notes creeping in with the peachy notes. Honeyed nuances on the palate. Delicious. Diminished acid but could be kept for a few more years. A little chalky minerality. I think I have one left.

From the difficult wet 2011 vintage in South Australia - at least the whites fared better than the reds. Pale gold in colour, light in body but persistent in flavour with good length despite the vintage. The palate has put on weight over the years. A delicious and technically correct Clare Valley Riesling - no Kerosene. Interesting to compare with the Crawford River (2013) and the Clonakilla (2010).

Mid yellow in colour. Aromas of musk and mandarin with dried herbs and a hint of paraffin. Fresh and sprightly at 18 years of age. I was contemplating leaving this to 2022 when it would have been 20 years old and on this showing it would have made it easily. With time some peachy flavours and some sweetness. Next day - lovely honeysuckle and honeyed notes on the palate. Fulsome with stone fruits and quince - you would think off dry but in fact 12.8% ABV and fully dry. Made by the legendary Brian Croser back then. An absolute treat to have a wine like this for Sunday lunch. One of the Wines of the Year for me.

Pale lemon in colour. Aromas of talc and citrus Very good palate intensity in the Lime Citrus spectrum. 2011 was a difficult year for Reds in SA but Whites fared a lot better. Probably at least another 5 years of good drinking ahead.

Racey, somewhat effervescent and acidic, like my Aussie Formula 1 driver ex.