The Central Otago Wine Cellar -

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Three friends embarked on an adventure a year ago; three friends with a mutual love, appreciation and now devotion to Riesling. They expressly resolved to focus solely on Riesling, a grape variety with wondrous versatility and adaptability. Heralded as the Spirit of the Earth – the fingerprint of the vineyard – Riesling has the uncanny ability to coax individuality and unique expression from its chosen, planted site, whether it be heavier clay soils, wind-blown loess or weathered schist gravels. Coupled with a climate of warm days and cool nights with the lowest rainfall in New Zealand, Riesling has found a home in Central Otago.
The philosophy of Auburn Wines is simple – to express site. As the portfolio grows, the range will eventually comprise a Riesling from each subregion of Central Otago.The viticulture will be carried out internally, sourcing fruit from special pockets of land and steadfastly limiting production to just a hundred dozen bottles of each wine – usually much, much less.
This is a labour of love, something that Auburn Wines are very passionate about and a journey that they are very excited to be sharing with a small group of fellow Riesling enthusiasts.
The Wines - Riesling 2009 Selection:
This exclusive selection of quality Riesling has only just begun, with Lowburn the starting site. Rare wines – very limited production. Only 760 bottles made of the Lowburn Riesling and 242 bottles of the Twilight Riesling. Wines are bottled in heavy, punted Saverglass flutes and are individually numbered. Six bottle purchase limit on the Twilight. The wines are off-dry in style, the Lowburn Riesling appearing more taut and racy thanks to its acid profile, with the Twilight more plush and generous, appearing sweeter with its lower acid profile and botrytis influence.

Auburn
Lowburn Riesling 2009 NZ$29.95

Sourced from 16yo vines in the subregion of Lowburn. Clean fruit, no botrytis, gently whole-bunch pressed. Lightly settled in tank, racked off solids and fermented cool. Bottled October 2009. Alcohol 9.0%, pH 3.03, TA 8.2g/L, RS 31g/L. Production 760 bottles. Floral and fruit-driven, particularly apricot/peach and lemon/lime. The palate echoes the nose, with a taut, youthful backbone of acidity that complements the residual sweetness. Finely textured, the structure leads to a long, precise finish. It will take six months in bottle before this wine truly integrates and from then, enjoy and cellar at your leisure.

Auburn
Twilight Riesling 2009 NZ$29.95

Sourced from 16yo vines in the subregion of Lowburn. Combination of clean and botrytis fruit, gently whole-bunch pressed and returned to press to soak overnight. Lightly settled in tank, racked off solids and fermented very cool. Bottled October 2009. Alcohol 10.0%, pH 3.21, TA 7.7g/L, RS 28g/L. Production 242 bottles. Aromatic and lifted, there is a combination of stonefruit and citrus on the nose, leading to exotic spice notes. Lots of viscosity and honey notes, finishing surprisingly dry. This is an interesting wine, an example of a spatlese trocken (fruit harvested sweet, made dry) that we initially planned as a dessert wine, but the microbes had other ideas. This is not a stereotypical Riesling and a wine that we will only make in certain years. Best enjoyed as an aperitif or even with roast pork.
5 stars - 93 points, Bob Campbell bobswinereviews.com