A few years back Steingarten was a single-vineyard Riesling from Orlando. Now it’s a flagship Barossa Riesling blend from (whisper it) Jacob’s Creek which has been rediscovered and is starting to attract notice amongst the winorati here in the UK. Since it was on special at about £9 I grabbed a few. It gives me a great chance to try 2006 vs 2007 side by side in some snazzy Grand Cru Riesling glasses.

One thing I have learned about Australian Riesling is that the very best of them are so tight you get a pinhole of piercing fruit surrounded by a sea of acidity. It leaves you wondering why you bought it, and what all the fuss is about. The short answer is you’ll never know unless you wait five years.

It’s interesting to taste wines together over a few hours. I’m sure on their own I’d have raved about the 2006 but 2007 is a much classier wine when tasted side-by-side:

2006 Jacobs Creek Steingarten Riesling. This has oodles of mouth watering limes and sherbet when you smell it. Very intense. This is a wine with presence, the fruit is shaded by all that acid, and it’s impressively long and mouth filling. Bit of a bruiser in Riesling terms. At this stage I won’t say no to a glass but it really needs time. Challenging now, and broader than 2007. 98+/109.

2007 Jacobs Creek Steingarten Riesling. Now this is better. Much more restrained, showing less of everything and so much better for it. The same acid is there but so much better integrated and well behaved. Like a giant sleeping softly. Less overt citrus, more minerals, some apples, and a lick of honey on the finish. So balanced and with a lovely texture that you can drink it now and get a small percentage of it’s potential, but it will age better than the 2006 … and I wanted a second glass. Class act. 101++/109.