Waimea Estates is a producer that people are starting to notice, and it is not surprising when you consider the show successes this relatively new Nelson region winery has been realising lately. Gold medals for Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and the 'Bolitho' Chardonnay and a trophy and a Liquorland Top 100 'Wine of the Show' for the Waimea Estate Noble Riesling 1999 - for sweet wine lovers, a divine experience. But at around NZ$45 a half bottle, this delicious nectar is a little pricey for other than a special occasion.

That's why I absolutely recommend the Waimea Estates Nelson Late Harvest Riesling 2001 that I tasted during the week. It's a third of the price of the Noble, but the quality for the style is on a parallel.

It's pale straw gold in colour and emits aromas of spice, flowers and honeyed limes. In the palate it is spritzy, sherbetty, clean and refreshing with gentle botrytis providing a honeyed richness to the intense lime and lemon flavours. It's sweet, but not too late and has a lovely balance of fruit, sugar and acidity. Honey grapefruit flavours linger.

I recommend this wine before dinner as an aperitif, during dinner as a sorbet or after dinner with a fruity dessert, which is how I served it on the weekend.

The Waimea Estates Late Harvest Riesling 2001 has 72 grams per litre of residual sugar, equivalent to a German auslese in style. Congratulations to Waimea Estates for actually putting the residual sugar level on the back label of the bottle - I wish more producers would do this.

Additional notes from Waimea Estate's newsletter say this wine has had a partial oak ferment, which unravels some of the mystery of that textural complexity the wine has.

What's in store for this tantalising wine I wonder. Yes I can see a golden horizon.

You can buy the Waimea Estates Late Harvest Nelson Riesling from the website for around $16 a bottle (minimum 6 bottle of Waimea Estates wine, plus freight), or check out your retailer, they may have a 'special' running. I bought mine for under $14 a bottle - an exceptional buy. I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops over time.