Black Estate Damsteep North Canterbury Riesling 2020 $35

Prepare for a rather different experience of riesling right from the get-go in this organic, biodynamically crafted example. For starters, almost half the bunches were foot-stomped in the old fashioned way and left to soak on its skins for 24hrs to add texture, plus it’s unfined and unfiltered, so if you notice some sediment in the bottle, don’t freak out, it’s totally natural, and a gentle decant will stop it from travelling to your glass. It’s also a tad fizzy when first poured due to trapped CO2 from its long, cool, wild ferment from a vineyard yeast starter. Mineral-driven aromatically, the real personality of this wine shines through in its lemony, Makrut lime flavours and bone-dry textures. With lemongrass, green apple and creamy complexity which quickly merges with white pepper, fresh ginger notes and interesting herbaceousness and high acidity to finish.

Black Estate