A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1025: Thirty Bench Rieslings, a Birthday Bottle and a Concert

Monday. June 22^nd: Dinner: chicken pasta with a bottle of Cono Sur Bicicleta Reserva.

Tuesday, June 23^rd: Dinner: Lamb chops with a bottle of Creekside Laura’s Blend 2022.

Wednesday, June 24^th: No wine.

Thursday, June 25^th: Winemaker Emma Garner invited me over to Thirty Bench to taste her Rieslings.

Thirty Bench Sparkling Riesling N/V ($37)
Pale straw, active mousse of tiny bubbles; leesy, toasty nose of grapefruit; light to medium-bodied; crisply dry, elegant, green apple and lemon flavours carried on lively acidity. (89)

Thirty Bench Small Lot Steel Post Riesling 2021 ($29)
Bright, pale straw colour; spicy, grapefruit bouquet with a hint of petrol and a mineral note; medium-bodied, grapefruit flavour with a touch of honey and a long, lemony finish. (90)

Thirty Bench Small Lot Wood Post Riesling 2022 ($29)
Bright straw in colour; minerally, grapefruit nose; light to medium-bodied; crisply dry with a touch of sweetness in mid-palate, grapefruit and lime flavours. Lovely mouth-feel. (91)

Thirty Bench Small Lot Triangle Riesling 2022 ($29)
Bright straw colour; lightly floral bouquet of grapefruit and peach; light to medium-bodied, honeyed-grapefruit flavour; beautifully balanced. Lovely mouth-feel and a long fresh finish. (90)

Thirty Bench Small Lot Wild Cask Riesling 2021 ($29)
Pale straw in colour with a green tint; lightly toasty, minerally, grilled grapefruit with a honeyed note; well extracted grapefruit and peach flavours; lovely mouth-feel, great length. (91)

Thirty Bench Winemaker’s Blend Riesling 2024 ($25)
Pale straw in colour; floral, apple and citrus nose; medium-bodied, just off-dry. Kabinett style, easy drinking, well-balanced with a racy lemon-lime finish. (90)

Thirty Bench Wnemaker’s Blend Cabernet Franc 2024 (10–15 months in oak; $25)
Purple-ruby in colour; cedary, toasty, black fruit bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, firmly structured; evident but ripe tannins. (89)

Thirty Bench Small Lot Wild Cask Cabernet Franc 2022 ($55)
Purple-ruby colour; toasty, vanilla, ripe red plum nose with a floral note; medium-bodied, dry, juicy plum and blackberry flavours with a hint of dried herbs; well-integrated oak and firmly structured with ripe tannins. (90)

Thirty Bench Small Lot Cabernet Franc 2020 ($76)
Purple colour; toasty, savoury nose of black fruits; medium-bodied, dry; richly extracted sweet plum and blueberry flavours; well-balanced and firmly structured, finishing on ripe tannins. (91)

Friday, June 25^th: No wine.

Saturday, June 26^th: Our grandson Max’s 7^th birthday party in Waterloo. Brought along a bottle of The Long Way Home Chardonnay 2024 – for the adults.

This evening, a free outdoor concert of Country & Western music at the Port Dalhousie lock. Took along a bottle of One Pound Per Acre Shiraz 2024 (South Australia). Left halfway through the concert. Decided I prefer County & Eastern.