Lange Estate Fifth Generation Riesling 2023

A scrumptious and delightful wine, wrapped in stories of over five generations on Great Southern land. The fruit characters are classic for the sub-region: mandarin oil, orange juice and lime pith. There is also pear juice, rose water, and pickled radish, adding nuance and prettiness to the wine. The Rieslings of 2023 over-delivered, and it’s lovely to see that, a few years down the road, they still hold plenty of intrigue and power. In the mouth, the tension is immediate and puckering. The sugar work is smart, well-integrated, and allows the wine to present as dry. Chalky, pithy phenolics add savoury depth, while the dense fruit brings indulgence. I was fortunate enough to have this wine blind at a BYO Chinese restaurant, even more fortunate to experience it in this context, and more fortunate again that it was so delicious both times. Chef’s kiss!

Cyndal Petty

Wine Critic at Winepilot

A hopeless romantic for wine and food, Cyndal is nearing 15 years in hospitality while still (just) under 30. A Chef-turned-Sommelier and award-winning wine professional, Cyndal recently left a Group Sommelier role where she curated seven wine lists across multiple venues and led the wine team to Gourmet Traveller Wine Bar of the Year—just months after opening. Now freelance, Cyndal is a wine consultant, event host, wine judge, and wine writer. Passionate about sharing wine’s story with the world, she brings a fresh voice and creative solutions to the industry. After studying and traveling through most of her 20s, she’s now based in WA’s southwest, proudly embracing her role as a WA coastal cowgirl.

Influencer and critic