2021 Out of stock: NOBLE RIESLING, Framingham. Marlborough, New Zealand (Half bottle)

Marlborough, at the top of the south island, is of course famous as the main source of all the NZ Sauvignon Blanc that has taken over the wine-drinking world. The sunny but cool climate actually works well for other varieties too, they just struggle to get a look-in. Framingham have some of the oldest Riesling in the area, planted in 1981.

Riesling infected with ‘botrytis’, picked over six different days, matured half in steel and half in oak barrels.

Winemaker since 2001 has been Dr Andrew Hedley, a Riesling fanatic.

Auslese style – rich, lusciously sweet (185 grammes of sugar per litre) but zingily fresh too.

Joanna Simon, Top 10 New World Sweet Wines, Decanter, on the 2018 –
First place to Framingham, Marlborough Noble Riesling 2018. 95 points. “Concentrated, creamy, beeswax botrytis aromas are threaded with orange zest and fragrant white peach. The palate is intensely fresh and mouthfilling, moving through flavours of dried peach and apricot, sustained by thrilling, bright acidity.”