Petrol Character in Riesling WinesSome information about "Petrol" character in Riesling. It is something that is present to a greater or lesser extent in all good expressions of the variety. It is inherent in the grape. The ability to detect this varies between individual wines, and, indeed, individual wine tasters! Generally this is a character that develops over time, but in many cases the indications are there in younger editions. In my experience, the wines made from more lightly cropped (more intensely flavoured) wines show more of the character, as do wines made from older vines. Niagara rieslings, which are among the best age-worthy values in the world of wine, seem to develop this character more quickly than their old-world counterparts. At one time Icewine was considered Canada's great wine secret. I would suggest that dry riesling is the real secret.
Having poured wines for many people over the past 15 years, I have often had the chance to see what happens when aged riesling is poured. Often aged riesling develops petrol character. I know of no other character (except perhaps overoaked wine) that splits a room in two as quickly as a strong petrol character. When a wine is young, it usually has only very slight petrol character, something I think of as precursors. In Ontario Rieslings that I have cellared - especially from wines made from older vines - I have noticed that the character is predictable. It seems to develop in a shorter period of time than the great classical German rieslings (the real ones, not those "creations" sold only to the English-speaking world, those with English names).
I find the character highly desirable, and prize it greatly. I know that if I put a Dry Vineland Estates Riesling in my cellar for 6 or 7 years, petrol will likely develop. But not everyone has developed a taste for this - I find that those people who have developed a taste for stronger and older cheeses tend to like it, those used to more lightly flavoured foods tend not to. Most of the people I know that would be considered "Wine Experts" seem to like this.
If you don't like the petrol character, DON'T AGE RIESLINGS!! They will CERTAINLY develop more as you age them...
"Sometimes as a very young wine, but more often with bottle age, Riesling exhibits a nose and, to a lesser extent, a flavor that's best described as "petrol-like," an analogous term suggesting a slightly oily, petroleum or kerosene overtone, which is more appealing than it sounds and highly appreciated when detected by Riesling collectors. The Alsatians refer to it as goût de pétrole. This varietal characteristic is a product of the grape's naturally high acidity interacting with certain chemical compounds found in higher levels in riesling than other grapes, and may be enhanced or diminished depending on vineyard conditions. Winemaker Olivier Humbrecht observes, "It is a phenomenon of the terroir that is unique to Riesling. When this aroma is present in the wine, it becomes more manifest with age." His Zind-Humbrecht Clos Häuserer Riesling is positively laden with goût de pétrole."
FROM thewinenews.comfebmar03