Yum, it’s Riesling weather. The sorts of places that make great Riesling aren’t always the ones where it is most useful: I find it the perfect hot weather wine, yet it grows best in cool climates. Here are a couple of good ones.
Paul Cluver Ferricrete Riesling 2012 Elgin, South Africa
10% alcohol. Delicate, pure citrussy nose with ripe green apple and honey notes. The palate is textured and fine with a hint of sweetness, fresh citrus fruit and great delicacy. Pure, linear and really convincing. 91/100 (£11.99 Marks & Spencer)
Tanners Mosel Kabinett Riesling 2011 Mosel, Germany
11% alcohol. Made by Max Ferd Richter. A lovely, rounded, fairly dry (I guess it’s still off-dry) Riesling with melon, pear and lemon fruit and zippy acidity offsetting the round, rich, sweet fruit. Nice weight and richness here. The hint of sweetness makes it taste fruitier. Super drinkable with a hint of seriousness. 90/100 (£10.95 Tanners)
Is that exclusive to M&S – and is is the same wine as ‘Close Encounter’ that I love but that isn’t brought into the UK any longer?
Hi Tim. The Ferricrete Riesling is exclusive to M&S. It is not the same as the Close Encounter. We do export Close Encounter Riesling to the UK as well. Cheers Paul
Tim, I know that Jancis had it as Wine of the Week back in March and seemed to think that M&S were the sole stockists. Christopher Piper Wines are listing the ‘Close Encounter’ which I assume must therefore be different to the Ferricrete.
As well as these off dry styles, their Late Harvest Riesling Rocks!
In South Africa the Close Encounter is sold under Paul Cluver’s own label and the Ferricrete under retailer Woolworths’s label. The 2012 vintage of the former weighs in at 35.4 g/l sugar and the latter at 19.2 g/l (also 2012). From the 2012 vintage they’ve also bottled a wine named “Dry Encounter”, which is actually off-dry at 8.6 g/l sugar.
Mmmm German riesling…
I’ve just purchased the Paul Cluver Ferricrete Reisling at Woolworths here in S.Africa. (The same store as M&S at home).
It’s R69 a bottle here (appx £4.50) so great value for a lovely wine.
PC also sells a Gewurtztraminer through Woolies here too which is cheaper again and I always stock up when I’m down this way.
A wonderful summer drinking wine on its own or with most Asian dishes.
Well done Mr Cluver!