Fragrant and slightly floral scents of zesty lime, apricot and mint mingle with a lovely hint of jasmine. On the palate, this wine is intense and medium-bodied, with bright green apple, lime and peach fruit flavors that start out sweet but end up dry on the finish. The bristling acidity, zippy fruit and tight mineral edge are pure Clare Valley.
Apricot, grapefruit, white peach, lemon zest, green tea and peppermint.
If you're curious about Australian Riesling, Clare Valley is a great place to start. Known for their dry, minerally palates and riveting acidity, Clare Valley Rieslings come from a region in South Australia that features an array of microclimates created by a jumble of hills, high plateaus and subvalleys. Site is crucially important here, as a vineyard just a stone's throw away may have very different soils and sun and wind exposure. Like most Clare Valley estates, Kilikanoon is a boutique winery that produces wines in small lots using traditional methods. The winery owns some of the oldest vines in the area, including the Riesling from Mort's Block, which provided the grapes for this wine. The vines are named for Mort Mitchell (the father of winemaker and winery owner Kevin Mitchell), who planted them in the 1960s in Watervale, a tiny but reputed subregion known for the lime-accented flavors in its Rieslings. Clare Valley Rieslings tend to age beautifully, softening and developing honeyed notes after a few years, so don't hesitate to cellar this wine. But why wait?
Because of their hint of sweetness, lower alcohol levels and high acidity, Rieslings can pair with foods that would flatten the flavors in softer, riper wines. The Kilikanoon Riesling is a wonderful match with salty, savory Asian dishes, especially those that keep the sweetness in check. For a different approach, serve the wine with salads, shellfish or white fish dishes. A punch of acidity from citrus juices will work well as an accent ingredient.
"A bottle of wine begs to be shared; I have never met a miserly wine lover." ~ Clifton Paul Fadiman
