Pikes Wines ‘Olga’ Emmie’ Riesling 2021
- 92
- $26
- Drink by: 2021-2030
Share
Olga Emmie is the name of the founder’s, Andrew and Neil Pike, maternal grandmother. Neil left the business several years ago with Steve Baraglia stepping up to the role of chief winemaker. The ‘Olga Emmie’ is the third of their 2021 Rieslings. Granted it appears a wonderful vintage, but even so, these wines are as good as we have ever seen from them. Thrilling stuff.
This is their slightly sweet style, reflecting wines like the German Kabinetts or a Spatlese at the lower end of the scale. It has 40 grams/litre of residual sweetness and a very low 8.5% alcohol. It is fresh and bright. The aromas are lovely lemony characters rather than the typical limes, but very appealing nonetheless. Floral notes weave in and out. There is a note like a freshly cleaned bathroom here (in the most positive sense). Softness on the palate and good length, the sweetness is undoubtedly evident. “They” say give it four to seven years. I think it will go much longer, but would be a lovely summer drink.
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.
