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2010 Tesco Finest Tingleup Riesling
There’s something about the name of this Western Australian Riesling that captures the imagination for its onomatopoeic resonance.
Tingleup suggests tongue-tingling, mouth-wateringly bright stuff and that’s precisely what this aromatic dry white is. Exclusive to Tesco, it was first sourced from Howard Park Wines by Phil Reedman MW, working at the time for the Tesco wine-buying department. Over the years, it has been one of the most consistently successful, not to mention best value,
wines of all in the Tesco Finest line-up.
While there’s a tendency to associate great Australian Riesling with South Australia’s Clare and Eden Valleys, the reality is that Western Australia’s Great Southern region has also forged a reputation in recent times for making good dry Riesling capable of ageing well.
No shrinking violet when it comes to its own brand, Howard Park regards itself as the region’s best Riesling producer with a history of over 24 years of production of the variety. Certainly, Reedman must have thought so when he approached Howard Park with a view to filling the Tesco Finest Riesling spot.
Howard Park was founded in 1986 by Jeff & Amy Burch, strong believers in the potential of Western Australia’s cool coastal climate for producing outstanding wines.
While Margaret River is generally considered superior for Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s the cold winters and cool nights of the vast Great Southern region, not to mention its old stony, low vigour, well-drained soils that seem better suited to the requirements of Riesling for the retention of natural acidity, varietal expression and minerality.
This year, the highly experienced winemaker Janice McDonald, ex Stella Bella, took over as chief winemaker and so the future of Tesco’s Finest Tingleup Riesling looks to be in safe hands.
Written by Anthony Rose
