2023 Robert Stein Half Dry Riesling, Mudgee

Don’t walk, run to buy the '23 RS 15 riesling, and if you miss out, don't say I didn't warn you. Peeled mandarin skin, orchard apples and finger lime squeezed from their bullet skins. Lemon yoghurt, halloumi and fennel seeds. A wash of gentle flowing acidity with kisses of sweetness well integrated into the textural expression of the wine. It's like biting into a hybrid fruit of green apple, mandarin and yuzu. Delicious.

95 points Special Value Shanteh Wale winecompanion.com.au

Robert Stein Half Dry Riesling from Mudgee is a beautifully balanced, vibrant white wine that captures the lively tension between sweetness and acidity that makes Riesling so irresistible. Crafted by Jacob Stein, one of Australia's most accomplished Riesling winemakers, this half dry style offers the freshness and drive of a dry Riesling with just a touch of residual sugar to round out the palate and bring extra depth and complexity.

The fruit is sourced from high altitude vineyards at around 500 metres above sea level, where the combination of warm sunny days and cool nights ensures perfect ripening conditions. The soils are a mix of gravelly loam and clay over limestone, giving the Riesling its signature mineral spine and bright, lifted aromatics.

Winemaking is focused on clarity and vibrancy. The grapes are handpicked early in the season to capture crisp acidity, gently pressed, and fermented slowly at cool temperatures using wild and cultured yeasts. Fermentation is stopped naturally to leave a small amount of residual sugar, balancing the sharp citrus and green apple characters without tipping the wine into overt sweetness. It is bottled young to preserve its purity and freshness.

In the glass, Robert Stein Half Dry Riesling shows aromas of lime blossom, green apple, white peach, and honeysuckle. The palate is crisp and energetic with tangy citrus, juicy orchard fruit, a hint of sweetness on the mid palate, and a zesty mineral finish. The touch of sugar adds roundness without ever feeling heavy, making it incredibly refreshing and versatile.

Perfect with spicy Asian dishes, chargrilled prawns, or fresh goat cheese, this is a Riesling that can move effortlessly from casual lunches to fine dining, offering pure drinking pleasure and a glimpse of Mudgee’s potential for world class whites.