Sometimes, not very often, when I drink a new wine, I am simply astonished. This happened to me yesterday when I drank the 2024 Rieslingfreak No.2 from Polish Hill in Clare Valley.
This wine has a high intensity of lime and green apple, but it is not fruity. The wine has a great line, and it is not broad. Equally, it is not piercing. It has a wonderful balance. The palate pushes towards a mineral and very satisfying finish.
This is the best young Australian Riesling I have tasted, not withstanding some Leo Burings of the past. I have never rated a wine as high for this price ($30/bottle).
This wine will age well, but it is such a treat right now.
Score: 97/+++
Hello Thomas,
ReplyDeleteIn my limited experience I’ve found Riesling to be a marginally boring wine. To my palate, they largely present as lemon /lime flavours with fine chalk like tannin. I’m often left scratching my head when Riesling is rated as highly as it is here.
I’m wondering if you’ve heard this from others Thomas?
Regards
Colin
Perhaps in response to German Riesling being perceived as fruity (and not desirable), Australian winemakers of Riesling have responded with making them very dry. And I agree with you, this has made them a bit boring and uninteresting. This Rieslingfreak No.2 has managed to deliver some flavour depth unusual for Australian Riesling, while at the same time maintaining a dry character. I suggest you try it out. I have not given another Australian Riesling such a high score.
ReplyDeleteA number of the friends I drink wine with are quite interested in Riesling, but probably more in German Riesling.
Thomas
Grabbed one after reading this. Totally agree with you, it's a beauty. Such great balance for a young riesling. Usually I find Polish Hill can be too much this young but definitely approachable now. Funnily enough the Limefinger polish hill '24 needed a year or two to loosen up by contrast but also some great wines there (his Watervale '24 definitely more approachable which you'd expect)
ReplyDelete