Ashton Hills was one of the original players in the Adelaide Hills and is, without a doubt, one of the region’s best. In some respects, the estate owes its fame to its trio of Pinot Noirs; Piccadilly, Estate and Reserve. However, the Chardonnay has always been of very high quality and the sparkling wines are exemplary. Until recently, aromatic whites (Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer) have figured in the Ashton Hills range (this imbiber understands that estate plantings are in the process of or are to due to be grafted over to or replanted to 100% Pinot Noir).
Adelaide Hills Rieslings tends to be slightly more genteel than its Eden Valley and Clare Valley peers, slightly more delicate and in the apple orchard rather than citrus grove realm. That said, the 2010 Ashton Hills Riesling is no shrinking violet. At 13.5% ABV, it is fully ripe and shows quite a bit of weight on the palate. There’s an interesting mix of grapefruit and apple blossom and decent depth of flavour.
Compared to some austere and backward Australian Rieslings (Grosset Polish Hill and Forest Hill Block 1 come to mind), this 2010 is remarkably open. It seems to be quite a fast developer; there’s a decent amount of pleasure to be had now and in the short term, but it is unlikely to be worth keeping for more than a few years. All in all, it’s a good wine and true to variety, but perhaps lacks some of the finesse and lightness of touch we associate with Ashton Hills.
2010 RIESLING
Producer: Ashton Hills
Variety: Riesling
Vintage: 2010
Region: Adelaide Hills, South Australia
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Screw cap
Retail Price: $28.00
Date tasted: 20 April 2013
Tasting Note:
Bright lemon yellow. Open aromatic nose of lemon zest, grapefruit peel, apple blossom. Hint of kerosene suggests some development. Dry, medium bodied, showing some evolution on the palate which is quite weighty, acidity hidden under the texture; pulpy green apple, nashi pear, lime sherbet. Good depth of flavour. Developing quite quickly and delivering a decent amount of pleasure now.
Score: 15.5/20
Adelaide Hills Rieslings tends to be slightly more genteel than its Eden Valley and Clare Valley peers, slightly more delicate and in the apple orchard rather than citrus grove realm. That said, the 2010 Ashton Hills Riesling is no shrinking violet. At 13.5% ABV, it is fully ripe and shows quite a bit of weight on the palate. There’s an interesting mix of grapefruit and apple blossom and decent depth of flavour.
Compared to some austere and backward Australian Rieslings (Grosset Polish Hill and Forest Hill Block 1 come to mind), this 2010 is remarkably open. It seems to be quite a fast developer; there’s a decent amount of pleasure to be had now and in the short term, but it is unlikely to be worth keeping for more than a few years. All in all, it’s a good wine and true to variety, but perhaps lacks some of the finesse and lightness of touch we associate with Ashton Hills.
2010 RIESLING
Producer: Ashton Hills
Variety: Riesling
Vintage: 2010
Region: Adelaide Hills, South Australia
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Screw cap
Retail Price: $28.00
Date tasted: 20 April 2013
Tasting Note:
Bright lemon yellow. Open aromatic nose of lemon zest, grapefruit peel, apple blossom. Hint of kerosene suggests some development. Dry, medium bodied, showing some evolution on the palate which is quite weighty, acidity hidden under the texture; pulpy green apple, nashi pear, lime sherbet. Good depth of flavour. Developing quite quickly and delivering a decent amount of pleasure now.
Score: 15.5/20
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