Wines Marlborough Urlar - Noble Riesling - 2015

Viniou Reviews

Urlar Cuvée Noble Riesling 2015 from Marlborough, New Zealand, is a captivating sweet wine crafted from Riesling grapes affected by noble rot (Botrytis cinerea). This selective process intensifies the wine’s concentration, yielding a rich texture and complex aromatic profile, with layers of honeyed apricots, candied citrus peel, marmalade, and subtle floral undertones, balanced gracefully by the naturally vibrant acidity of Marlborough Riesling. The wine’s 2015 vintage benefits from favourable harvest conditions, lending purity and freshness to the luscious sweetness.

Marlborough, at the northeastern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, is globally renowned for its cool maritime climate, cooler nights, and high sunshine hours. These factors, along with free-draining alluvial soils overlying schist and greywacke, contribute to wines expressing remarkable clarity and aromatic definition. The region’s winemaking history is relatively recent but rapidly ascending: since the 1970s, Marlborough has built a formidable reputation, particularly with Sauvignon Blanc and increasingly with aromatic varieties like Riesling. Noble rot, encouraged by the region’s misty mornings and dry afternoons, enables winemakers to craft elegant and well-balanced dessert wines with vibrant fruit and refreshing acidity.

The Urlar Cuvée Noble Riesling 2015 pairs superbly with a range of desserts—try it with tarte Tatin, lemon drizzle cake, or crème brûlée, where the wine’s zesty acidity offsets rich, creamy textures. For a regional touch, consider blue cheeses such as New Zealand’s own Kapiti Kikorangi, or serve alongside spiced apple crumble, where sweet, tangy elements play beautifully with the wine’s intricate bouquet. Classic pairings like foie gras or duck liver pâté are also excellent, allowing contrasts of salt and sweet.

For optimal enjoyment, chill the wine to 8-10°C. At this temperature, the balance between vibrant acidity and opulent fruit becomes especially harmonious. Serve in smaller dessert wine glasses to concentrate the bouquet—opening the bottle slightly in advance will allow the aromatic complexity to fully express itself. This wine will also develop further complexity with careful ageing, though its freshness and primary fruit are already delightful.