2023 Polish Hill River Riesling

Pale straw with green hues.

The bouquet provides notes of talc, musk, bath salts and lime.

The palate is fine and delicate with underlying intensity. Notes of minerality, citrus and talc and refined acidity balanced with flavour for an exquisite lasting finish.

We love to enjoy this Riesling while fresh, however it also has excellent cellaring potential - up to 20 years.

Despite growing these vines organically since their planting in the 1970s, 2010 marked the first year of NASAA Organic Certification for these vineyards. Martin and Joan Smith and Molloy's vineyards are virtually next to each other in Polish Hill River and consistently produce top quality fruit which highlights the excellence of this sub-region of the Clare Valley. Grey loam acid soils over sandstone and slate make up the profile with much of the top soil littered with rock, proving just how tough the vines need to be to sustain growth and produce quality fruit. It is the slate of Polish Hill River, as opposed to the limestone of Watervale, that gives rise to the point of difference between these styles.

Fruit is harvested in the cool of night, de-stemmed, crushed and gently pressed. This results in a fine free-run cut and a pressings component, with all batches kept separately in stainless steel tanks. The free-run juice is chilled to preserve the vineyard expression and purity of fruit. Once the juice has settled it is racked off solids and seeded with yeast. A cool, temperature controlled fermentation is carried out over 10-14 days. The wine is then chilled and filtered prior to bottling.  

Alcohol - 12%

pH - 3.00

Acidity - 7.6g/L

96 Points - The Real Review

“Very intense and generous bouquet of mixed flowers, super-fragrant and scented, the palate likewise intense and bracingly dry with a touch of tannin augmenting the mouth-watering dryness. It's almost searingly crisp and intense, rapier-sharp and long-lasting. Quartzy mineral nuances. Very long carry. It will richly reward cellaring.” - Huon Hooke

96 Points - Winepilot

"Oh my. How good is this? This is the essence of Polish Hill River Riesling: the concentration of fruit, the depth, the texture, the spice, the quiet power. It’s all here. Just released and ready to be savoured and enjoyed. Jasmine, bergamot, citrus, grapefruit, a sprinkle of rosemary and white pepper aromas. How intriguing are those spices! Grown under organic methods, it brings extraordinary depth of citrus (grapefruit, Meyer lemon), green apple and lime zest married to an equally impressive depth of background spice, including earthy ginger and a light shake of white pepper. Acidity is well-honed with a mineral clean edge. This is what Polish Hill River Riesling is all about." - Jeni Port

96 Points - QWine Reviews 

“Why is Riesling the best value wine in Australia? Crack this for $30 and you'll sit bolt upright. What a blistering wine we have here! So aromatic and so steely, all the best bits of a quality Riesling are here in a very tidy package. Bath salts, white flowers, Bickford's lime cordial and lemon juice reach for your favour along with a flicker of grapefruit. Green apple peel slides in late and right on cue. Like the Watervale, the shimmer of soft spices comes late but the citrusy tang is real. The expected river stone minerality and chalk feels arrive on cue to close. It's absolutely delicious and I just want more. Drink now to embrace the freshness but this will age beautifully.” - Steve Leszczynski 

96 Points - Winepilot

"A superb Clare vintage, yet again, with a long and cool growing season. The vineyards, located next to each other, have been certified as organic since 2010. Gleaming pale yellow, there are strong citrus notes here. Lemons, limes and grapefruits, along with a gentle spicy touch and backed by cool river stones. This is finely balanced, focused and with such impressive length. A line of acidity runs the length. This can be enjoyed over the next ten to fifteen years, but well cellared, could go twenty to thirty. A stunning Riesling and simply extraordinary value. Buy it by the case." - Ken Gargett

95 Points - The Wine Front

“Mineral-savoury start with wet stones, flint, brown limes and sage. Flavours are a pleasant continuation, full and round, filled with fleshy nectarines and pears in the middle, slightly grilled. Grapefruit finish with a dusting of pepper and nutmeg spice. I really enjoy the structure and texture of this wine, it has weight and detail. Feels like a whole wine, with front middle and back, confident and very well made. It’s a great deal of satisfaction.” - Campbell Mattinson 

94 Points - Halliday Wine Companion 

“What a ripper drink! This delivers drinkability and charm in spades. Green apple, lime juice, a touch of gingery spice, some lanolin and candlewax scents and flavours. Texture, well, waxy too, delightfully so with chewy, chompy puckering things going on around the inherent juiciness of young Riesling. It feels super-approachable and immediately appealing, well resolved for drinking in its youthful flourish. A cracking release.” - Mike Bennie

94 Points - Winepilot

"This multi-layered Polish Hill Riesling from the excellent 2023 vintage shows a powerful and composed core of aromas with classic lime and spice joined by some more exotic nectarine and mandarin skin in the background. This is unexpected texture to the wine, almost creamy layers of focused flavour, well supported by angular acidity. A bit adolescent right now so definitely needs time to come together." - Angus Hughson

94 Points - Canberra International Riesling Challenge 2023