Wine: Black Opal Winery, Black Silk Grape: Rhine Riesling Region: Clare And Eden Valley, Sth Aus Vintage: 1994 IF you have never heard of the Black Opal Winery, you are not alone. This winery, whose original cellar buildings were constructed in the picturesque Clare Valley in 1863, was known as the Quelltaler Winery until the late '80s. Sold to Wolf Blass, it was renamed Eaglehawk and then renamed again as Black Opal earlier this year.
Rhine Riesling is unfashionable but it can produce wonderful wine. The Clare and the Eden Valley produce the best quality Rhine Rieslings in Australia. Rieslings are delicious young and fresh but can age gracefully over several decades to produce most complex and interesting wines. Black Silk shows excellent Riesling character, having been cold fermented in stainless steel to retain the natural fruity flavours. Black Silk is crisp and dry, yet packed with strong citrus flavours. This wine should go very well with Cantonese seafood dishes. Don't be put off by the packaging, which is like an outsize perfume bottle, with embossed pink flowers.
Where To Buy: From the importer Shui Hing's Food and Wine Cellar (Tel: 2721-8770) at $80.10 per bottle. This is a special offer for October only. Barry Burton NB: the contact number given for importer Larkon in last week's column should be 2850-5063.