McWilliam's Hanwood Estate Riesling 05

This is currently reduced to £4.99 in Somerfield, I picked up a bottle this morning to try.

Anyone familiar with this?

Yes...I bought it once at the same price but thought it was too sweet.

Limey and petrolly though so it is a classic Aussie riseling in that sense but the sweetness got to me in the end..

Wolf Blass Eaglehawk is better for about the same price

For me, Leasingham Magnus, if bought from Thresher, wins every time. Last week the panel tasted Aus Rieslings, but I haven't written it up yet because I've got 2 weeks in hand to cover for the MW exam in early june.

1st place, out of 8, was Leasingham 2005, 2nd was Leasingham 2004, Joint 3rd McWilliams Hanwood and Palandri Boundary Road.

Strangely, Pewsey Vale was last, at £9.19. I remember this wine being almost the only Aus Riesling you could get and also being fabulous.

It smelt like the CO2 that comes out of a bottle of champagne and was much sweeter than the others, with a saccharine aftertaste, which we didn't like.

One of the perks of this job - actually, it's all perks, but no money - is that for some tastings I get several samples of the same wine, from different stockists. My filing cabinet looks a little like Manhatten at the moment. Think I'll go and slip the Leasingham in the fridge for tonight. Have a good weekend.

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mel

What you need is a few loyal forumites to relieve the strain when it comes to tasting freebies.

Although I love the steely, citrusy, dryness of a good Riesling I do also enjoy some off-dry examples from the Pfalz & Mosel so maybe a touch of sweetness won’t be too off putting.

I know the Aussie way is a different style, but I just can't help feeling they're a bit wan in comparison to the glorious Germans.

I'll help out with the Germans, in the unlikely event of your needing assistance

How close are any of you to Stroud, Glos. I'd love help with the samples, or just general panel tasting.

I agree completely, ref Germans. I love the green, bone dry style of the Australians but an Auslese with 10 years bottle age on it takes a lot of beating.

300+ new offers arriving on the site over the weekend, from Majestic, starting 1st May.

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mel