The 2006 Aria Late Picked Riesling was picked through multiple passes through the vineyard selecting bunches with more than 30% botrytis. It displays an engaging “minimalist” nose with touches of lanolin, musk, Turkish Delight and wet wool and a sprightly viscous palate that has just the right amount of residual sugar to balance the acidity. Although winemakers Matthew Donaldson and Lynette Hudson look as if they have just got in from an all-night rave, they are presently producing some of New Zealand’s most exhilarating, Burgundyinspired white wines, their reds suffused with earthy flavors. They are demonstrating the potential of the Canterbury wine region and constitute one of New Zealand’s best producers. Their whites are exhilarating and seem best between a year in bottle and around fiveyears. Importer: Empson (USA), Inc., Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900; fax (703) 684-2065