Terrace Edge, Liquid Geography Riesling, Waipara, 2018

Bought by Bruce and Jill Chapman in 1999, this family-run estate north of Christchurch is home to 2,000 olive trees as well as 12ha of grapevines – a number of varieties are planted across a range of different soil types, and full organic status was achieved in 2014. A generally good growing season saw some issues with humidity at the end of January 2018, but a good summer with record hot and dry weather before harvest in March. The fruit for this wine was left longer on the vine to develop, and was made using a small percentage of botrytis-affected grapes to intensify flavours. Stainless steel-fermented, in an off-dry style, it has a wonderful nose, classic for a New World Riesling, more tropical than lime fruit but fresh with a low emphasis on the petrol tones, and light honey. On the palate it’s big, juicy, and eminently drinkable, with low-ish acidity and an open and enveloping style. Not challenging, but it gives a lot and will easily make plenty of friends.