Dandelion Vineyards Wonderland of the Eden Valley Riesling 2021
- 96
- $60
- Drink by: 2021-2041
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Unfortunately, the first thing that many will notice about this wine is its price tag. Sixty bucks for a Riesling? Insanity. Well, not really. A wine of this quality is a steal for sixty bucks. To get this quality in a Chardonnay, you’d need to double the price and more. In a Pinot? Start adding zeros. Do not be put off by the price. The Wonderland of the Eden Valley vineyard was planted back in 1912. Hand harvesting took place in the last week of February. Whole bunches were destemmed and then to the presses without crushing. The free run juice was fermented in small tanks at between 11 and 14°C. Again, technically suitable for vegans. Again, why would you?
A very pale lemon colour, the nose delves into spices, florals, minerals, wet stones and that flick of a character reminiscent of Iced VoVo biscuits that seems typical of the very best 2021s. Vibrant acidity and serious focus through to a juicy finish. Great length, this is a Riesling which will easily see out and improve for the next twenty years, in a good cellar. At which time, sixty bucks will seem like beads for Manhattan.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
