Buying guide: Riesling

Key findings: There have been concentrated efforts to uplift the quality of South African Riesling in recent times, but it seems that improvements are slow in coming. Examine the ratings of the latest batch of submissions to be reviewed by the Wine magazine panel and there’s lots that are sound enough but nothing of great distinction. In general, local producers don’t struggle to obtain fruit expression but usually at the expense of freshness. Some of the wines also display a pronounced terpene character, out of place on young Riesling.

If South African Riesling is ever to come close to the light but simultaneously extremely intricate wines of the Mosel, then local producers are no doubt going to have to be even more particular about site selection and viticulture than they are now.

★ ★ ★
Nederburg Winemaster’s
Reserve Riesling 2010 R43
Villiera Rhine Riesling 2009 R48
Hartenberg Weisser Riesling 2009 R57
Ross Gower Rhine Riesling 2009 R70
Jordan Riesling 2009* R71.50
Howard Booysen Wines
Riesling 2010* R135

★ ★ ✩
Deetlefs Weisser Riesling 2009 R59

★
Groote Post
Weisser Riesling 2008 (vinolok) R67