Prompted by the fascinating discussion going on in the Terry Theise - Riesling thread, I dug back through my notebooks to find this Riesling that I really liked, a California Wine Club International Selection from February 2015 that I hadn't previously posted.
Petaluma 2013 Hanlin Hill Claire Valley Riesling ($24)
Clear light gold in color. Attractive, heady fruit, peaches and mangoes, meyer lemon and a whiff of honey on the nose and palate. The aromas make you expect a touch of sweetness, but tart, snappy acidity brings a bone-dry impression to the palate; if there's any residual sweetness here, it is fully masked by the tart squirt of lemon-lime that the acidity delivers. As it warms in the glass, it grows in complexity, bringing a taste of green tea and a distinct touch of "petrolly" Riesling minerality to the party. The label's claimed 15% alcohol sounds startling, but in fairness, I can't detect it on the palate. Very fine example of Riesling from Australia, a region that does this German grape with particular flair. U.S. importer: Distinguished Vineyards and Wine Partners, Overland Park, Kan., for California Wine Club's International Wine Selections. (Feb. 6, 2015)
FOOD MATCH: Fried faux-fish fillets with tartar sauce.