A silhouette of the young lady herself, this wine is named in honour of the Collett family matriarch, Mary McTaggart. A lover of all things aromatic, Mary started Woodstock Estate’s flourishing herb garden. The delicately perfumed Riesling grape made her favourite wine, and this scented example comes solely from a small north-facing vineyard on the sandy slopes of the highest part of the estate. Soothed by sea and gully breezes over summer, the fruit is picked in the cool of the night, capturing the fragrant varietal aromas at their peak.

Featuring the Proprietor’s Grandfather, Sydney Neill – Wine Merchant, on the label, Picnic Riesling is our perennial favourite and a wonderful introduction to the pleasure of Central Otago Riesling. We think it is just as much a dinner wine as a luncheon – equally enjoyable at home outdoors as at the Captain’s Table.

Vintage Comment:

Smallish crops on healthy vines gave us gorgeous aromatics and drive. The wines appear more elegant than the 2010’s but have a feminine feel and freshness about them. Winemaker’s Notes:

Crushed rose petal, spicy ginger and lime aromatics. Followed by a focused, mineral driven palate with strength and an energetic finish. A lively and varietal wine that drinks well immediately but has the potential to age elegantly over the next 3-5 years

Really pale yellow with hints of green. Nice aromas of lime and apples that extends into the palate with some fresness crispiness.

Pure, classic Riesling aromas of granny smith apple and citrus blossom are followed by a dry, elegant palate full of zesty lime and apple flavours.

Hailing from Eden Valley, this crisp vivicious wine is ideal for spice infused Asian dishes or just as an energetic aperitif. The Riesling is selectively picked from a unique vineyard which florishes on ancient soils in the cooler region of Eden Valley. After harvest the pristine fruit is gently pressed and fermented at cool temperatures leaving a small amount of natural residual sugar to balance with crisp acidity. The result is a delicate, yet intense low alcohol wine with a long and lively finish.

Previous vintages

James Halliday Wine Companion – 2010 Live Wire – 94 points ”the expected sweetness perfectly balanced by crisp refreshing acidity” –Oct 2010

This is an off dry style, so neither sweet or dry, but has obvious hints of sweetness, which is great against the backdrop of piercing acidity that the German Rieslings are renowned for. Expect lots candied lime flavours, fruit salad and floral notes, while the palate is crisp, fresh and lingers deliiously.