Meinert Riesling 2013

Wine: Meinert Family Collection Riesling 2013

Winery location: Devon Valley

Wine of Origin: Elgin

Winemaker: Martin Meinert

Background: Martin Meinert is a formidable player in our wine making industry and has been responsible for the success of many well-known wine brands such as Vergelegen, Sylvanvale Winery and Ken Forrester Wines, and his own brand Meinert Wines. Today he still consults with Ken Forrester and The FMC (Forrester Meinert Chenin Blanc) 2013 is one of the Cape’s most respected Chenin Blanc’s. However, his own successful brand keeps him very busy as he is now producing over 12 different wines within his portfolio.

This past weekend I attended the Riesling & Rarities Rock event at Hartenberg Estate where it was so nice to see Martin showing both his 2012 and 2013 Rieslings.

Riesling wines in Southern Africa have had a confusing past as there were two styles of Rieslings produced, one being the true Rhine (Weisser) Riesling and the other was an official SA Riesling which in actual fact was not a Riesling at all, but a wine made from an inferior grape variety called Crouchen Blanc. New rules apply which means the name Riesling can now only be used for wines made from the German variety.

Martin sources his Riesling grapes from the same farm in Elgin where he gets his grapes for his La Barry Sauvignon Blanc. The 2013 is his second vintage from this vineyard which is now six years old. The wine was fermented cold for about six weeks using an Austrian yeast, after which the wine was left on the lees for six months prior to bottling.

Result: This off-dry wine has lovely fresh aromas of spanspek and lemon which lead you to a rich mouthfeel of zesty lime flavours and great acidity ensuring that this wine is beautifully balanced.

When to drink: now till 2018

Drink with what: Spicy food especially a delicate chicken curry or stirfry!

Expect to pay: R85.00