2025 Utzinger Riesling

Here we have a bell-ringing Riesling from Matthias and Lauren Utzinger!

The vines behind this Riesling were planted in 1974, down on the Tamar riverbank where the soils are predominantly mudstone and the site runs warm. Dry-grown, over 50 years old, and producing fruit with a depth and texture that younger vines simply can't replicate.

The winemaking approach adds another layer of interest. After hand-picking, the fruit sits on skins for 24 hours before fermentation in a mix of stainless steel and seasoned oak, then four months on full lees. The result is a Riesling with an unusual amount of body and textural richness for the variety. There's around 10 grams of residual sugar, but the acidity is the star of the show, keeping everything clean and driving a long, fresh finish.

In the glass it sits in that pleasurable off-dry zone where you barely register the sweetness because the citrus and freshness are so dominant. Floral, aromatic, and very easy to drink, with a mineral backbone that gives it some grip and longevity. 

Old-vine Tamar Riesling with texture and precision in equal measure. A bit of a find.