It must have been like being told by Walter Lindrum that he’d have to change the rules to beat you! At the recent Royal Sydney Wine Show Seppelt white wine maestro Ian McKenzie was informed by former Leo Buring winemaker and riesling legend, John Vickery, that as far as his silver medal-winning riesling was concerned, he must have the wrong vintage entered in the catalogue! The well-kept drop in question was made under McKenzie’s direction into a lean, austere bottle-ageing style he likens to ‘a Leo Buring style with Vickery in full flight’. Then he deliberately forgot all about it for a decade. Now, having collected a trophy at the Melbourne Show and still looking about three years of age, it’s approaching a release date soon. The vintage? 1984. McKenzie must have enjoyed telling Vickery the catalogue was right. Look for pre-release tasting notes in the next issue.
