Tim Smith Wines Riesling 2012

Tim Smith Wines is the venture of winemaker Tim Smith.  This is the second vintage of his Eden Valley riesling, with the grapes sourced from a vineyard planted in 1922 at an elevation of 450 metres above sea level.  That a riesling vineyard might be a lazy 90 years old, and no doubt with the vines planted on their own roots, is really something, I think.  Let’s hope they don’t stuff it all up with the mooted relaxation on South Australian phylloxera controls.

Having written a paper recently on wine labelling, my unwritten conclusion was that it doesn’t interest me much despite their remarkable powers.  Sometimes you read one though, like this one, and the description matches your own thoughts rather than being full of guff.

Tim Smith’s riesling is almost clear in colour, the aromatics of sour lemon, lemon pith and salt.  On the palate, the 2012 riesling is bone dry, has very racy acidity and a bit of tang, with lemons, salt and some residual stoniness there and perhaps short of medium but subtle length.  It’s a combination of angles and a certain lightness in body, set to soaring lemon flavours and bracing acidity.  This wine will probably last for a very long time, and is a good example of Eden Valley riesling.  Good

Abv: 11.5%
Price: $25
Source: sample
Vendors: Check http://www.wine-searcher.com/
Website: http://www.timsmithwines.com.au
Tasted: 2012