Riesling tasting notes: a worked example
See what a structured Riesling tasting note looks like, line by line, then fill in the blank sheet for the bottle in your glass.
A Riesling tasting note, line by line
This is a worked example of how a note can read for the typical style of the grape. It is not a review of one bottle. Your wine will differ, so write what you find.
| Line of the note | What a typical Riesling note says |
|---|---|
| Appearance Colour and depth | Write what you see. Colour changes with the bottle and its age, so no grape guide can fill this line in for you. |
| Nose Fruit | Lime, green apple and peach. Sweeter styles add marmalade and honey. |
| Nose Other | Jasmine and beeswax. Alsace Riesling can be more floral and perfumed. |
| Nose With age | Petrol or kerosene, often with honey. It is a recognised aroma of the grape. |
| Palate Sweetness | It varies, from bone dry to very sweet. Check the label and your own palate. |
| Palate Acidity | High. |
| Palate Body | Light. Dry Riesling from Alsace and the Pfalz can be fuller. |
| Palate Tannin | None. |
| Conclusions Where it is from | Germany is the most important producer, from the Mosel, Rheingau and Pfalz. Alsace in France, the Wachau in Austria and the Eden and Clare Valleys in Australia also make it. |
The same note in two sentences
Off-dry with high acidity and a light body. Lime and green apple on the nose, with jasmine. Crisp and bright, with the sweetness balanced by the acidity.
What to look for
- Sweetness is the first thing to settle, because Riesling spans bone dry to very sweet. Then check whether high acidity balances it.
- Petrol or kerosene is a recognised aroma, mostly in older bottles. Tick it if you find it.
Now write your own
Fill this in for the bottle in front of you. It saves on your device only. Nothing is sent to us.
Questions
What does Riesling taste like?
Typically lime, green apple and peach, often with jasmine or honey. It has high acidity and can range from bone dry to very sweet.
Why does some Riesling smell of petrol?
Decanter says Riesling from the Mosel and Australia can develop honey, petrol and kerosene-like flavours with age. It is a known characteristic of the grape.
How do I write a Riesling tasting note?
Work in the same order every time: look, nose, palate, then your conclusions. Decide how sweet it is, name the fruit, then rate acidity and body. The blank sheet on this page follows that order.
Sources
The typical aromas, structure and regions above come from these grape guides.