Logan Ridge of Tears Riesling 2023

For a 2023 wine, this is rather forward in colour, but the nose and palate more than make up for any quibbles. What a delectable nose. Heavenly, in fact. Orange blossom, kerosene, wax, toasty hay, vanilla, and some white gum honey sweetness. The palate confirms sweetness in this off-dry iteration, but there’s nothing cloying. Perfectly balanced with the intricate acidity. Despite the fruit’s sweetness, there’s a curry leaf savoury core and finish. These contradictions compel and it’s a wine that is hard to put down. Savoury spice and saline succulence hold attention, with fab phenolics and a bone broth miso earthiness singing. This offers a lusciousness of body and shape, and a good pace of movement through the palate and the layers upon layers of texture. A wine full of character and a brilliant bottle for diverse and oft-challenging food pairings. I’d love to see this with a bowl of piping hot ramen, laced with all that umami goodness – not an easy dish to pair, but the body and structure here will be up to the job.