Hentley Farm OD Riesling Barossa Valley 2021

There is a real place for off-dry Riesling in Australia. There is something about that thirst-quenching element of these wines that is so engaging. This is so wildly aromatic with lemon grass, lemon curd, sea salt and bursting limey aromas. The palate has a juiciness and texture alongside balance and refinement.  I think you’d be able to sway a lot of ‘regular’ riesling drinkers here. Why? The acidity sweeps through and keeps the finish precise and refined. This would be fun aperitif but if I’m choosing something specific to have here alongside which would be Delice de Bourgogne, Saint Angel & Taleggio – three of my all-time favourite cheeses I’d pair with this wine in a heartbeat.

Matt Dunne

Wine critic and journalist at Joval Wine

Matt Dunne is one of Sydney’s finest sommeliers and communicators who is also the Group Wine Ambassador for the Joval Wine Group. He has created and managed wine lists for over 30 venues including ARIA Sydney, Opera Bar and Chiswick. In 2011 Matt won the Sydney Morning Herald’s 2011 ‘Good Food Guide Louis Roederer Sommelier of the Year’ and his team won the 2015 Wine List of the Year in the Good Food Guide for ARIA Sydney plus he was a Len Evans Scholar. Matt has tremendous knowledge of wine, beer and spirits, and has written his own wine blog for over 8 years.

International wine knowledge and tasting expertise