Wines Marlborough Framingham - F-Series Riesling Kabinett - 2024

Viniou Reviews

Framingham’s F-Series Riesling Kabinett 2024 is an enticing white wine that embodies the elegance and vibrancy for which Marlborough is renowned. Crafted from 100% Riesling grapes, this particular cuvée draws inspiration from the classic German Kabinett style, offering an enticing interplay between residual sugar and marked acidity. The 2024 vintage benefited from a temperate growing season with cool nights, allowing for extended ripening and exceptional aromatic precision. Vinification is meticulous, with hand-harvested fruit undergoing gentle pressing. Fermentation is carefully controlled to preserve the delicate citrus and stone fruit characters, as well as a subtle mineral edge that typifies premium Riesling from this region.

Situated at the north-eastern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, Marlborough has built a global reputation as the country's leading wine region. The area enjoys long, sunny days and cool nights, fostering refined acidity and vivacious aromatics in its white wines. Gravelly alluvial soils, left behind by ancient riverbeds, provide excellent drainage and low fertility; this stresses the vines just enough to concentrate flavours in the grapes. Marlborough’s history as a wine region is relatively recent, dating from the 1970s, but its remarkable ability to showcase varietal purity has made it a hotbed of innovation, particularly for aromatic whites such as Riesling.

Given its crispness and gentle sweetness, the Framingham F-Series Riesling Kabinett 2024 is a superb companion to a wide range of dishes. It shines with lightly spiced Asian cuisine—think Thai green curry or Vietnamese salads—as well as fresh seafood such as oysters or grilled prawns. Locally in New Zealand, this wine would pair beautifully with green-lipped mussels or aromatic lamb dishes incorporating fresh herbs and citrus. Its moderate alcohol and racy acidity also make it a fine choice alongside soft cheeses or as an aperitif.

For optimal enjoyment, serve this wine well chilled, ideally between 6-8°C. Enjoy it young to capture its pristine fruit and floral notes, though several years' ageing could reveal greater complexity and an intriguing hint of petrol typical of mature Riesling. Use a tulip-shaped glass to fully appreciate its delicate bouquet and zingy palate.