Rieslingfreak


— Portfolio —

No.9 CLARE VALLEY SEKT RIESLING 2019
Bottle Shot

The fruit for Rieslingfreak No.9 Sekt Clare Valley Riesling comes from the family property, situated in the Clare Valley, in the sub region of White Hutt. The grapes for No.9 were selected from the coolest part of the vineyard; providing grapes with high natural acidity, lifted perfume and delicate fruit flavors. After primary fermentation, the wine was stabilized and prepared for secondary fermentation in bottle, also known as “Tirage”. The wine was Tiraged in June 2019, completing secondary fermentation (the process that adds the *sparkle* to sparkling wine) by September 2019.

After completing secondary fermentation, the wine spent three years in bottle on yeast lees. During this time, the autolysis of the yeast contributed sweet toasty aromas and flavours and a creamy mouthfeel; softening the apparent acidity and enriching the palate. Disgorged in June 2022, this wine captures the essence of great Riesling fruit, bursting with citrus and white peach; perfectly complemented by the subtle yeasty undertones of autolysis as notes of floral honey and toasted brioche. The wine has only 2.25g/L residual sugar, making it extremely dry for an Australian sparkling, but the sweet fruit flavors and creamy mouthfeel ensure a decadently rich palate. These deceptively lush fruit flavours coupled with driving natural acidity is the quintessential expression of ultra-premium Clare Riesling; and combining this with the inherent complexity of a Méthode Traditionelle sparkling wine makes for a very special sparkling experience indeed!

 

No.3 CLARE VALLEY RIESLING 2023
Bottle Shot

Sourced exclusively from White Hut the family vineyard in the Clare Valley, owned by Richard and Anne Hughes. The majority of the 5 sites has deep red clay, over limestone, providing a fruit driven style of Riesling.

These heavy red clay soils contribute to the fruit intensity of this wine, with its classic notes of lemon and lime.

“It stands out for it’s marriage of intensity and finesse, with a mouth-watering array of lime juice and slivery acidity flavours, the balance and length beyond reproach” – Top 100 Wines 2023 – 96 Points – James Halliday

“The fruit for this 2023 No. 2 is from Polish Hill River, a subregion in Clare Valley. On the nose, there’s juniper berry and cassis, thyme and rosemary, green apple skin and brine. The fruit on the mouth is fleshy and concentrated—the shape of it is almost round—but don’t mistake this for soft. The phenolics are firm on the tongue and on the back of the palate. This is a structural Riesling, and it is one with great power and density through the finish. Very impressive. I love the finish on this wine. It’s feathered, talcy, textural and flavorsome. 11.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.” – 96 Points – Erin Larkin – The Wine Advocate

 

No.4 EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2023
Bottle Shot

Fruit for the Eden Valley Riesling is sourced from four vineyards located across the Southern Ranges of Eden Valley. Two vineyards are located in Flaxman Valley in High Eden, a premium sub-region of Eden Valley. The first vineyard, owned by Michael Mason, is planted on shallow grey sandy loam over shale rock.  The second vineyard is owned by Ben Zander, planted in loam soil over light medium clay, with high quartz rock and gravel content. The third vineyard belonging to Mark Bartholomaeus, is in the heart of the Eden Valley township, with 65 year old vines, producing wines with intense flavour and exceptional natural acidity.

Vegan friendly, with the delicacy and refinement that are the hallmarks of Eden Valley.

“It stands out for it’s marriage of intensity and finesse, with a mouth-watering array of lime juice and slivery acidity flavours, the balance and length beyond reproach” – Top 100 Wines 2023 – 96 Points – James Halliday

“The fruit for this 2023 No. 4 is from four vineyards: three in High Eden (Eden Valley’s only subregion) and one in Springton. On the nose, this is restrained and taut, with a glassy, mineral quality to the aromatics that include brine, green apple skins, dried lavender and shells. In the mouth, the wine performs just exactly thus, with a tense line of acidity calibrating the nose and palate as one, while the lingering flavors speak both of Eden and Riesling in equal measure. It’s an austere wine, delicate, fine and very long. It’s a bit closed now, but it will age tremendously. 12% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.” – 92 Points – Erin Larkin – The Wine Advocate

 

No.2 POLISH HILL RIVER RIESLING 2022
Bottle Shot

The Polish Hill River vineyard, owned by Robert and Lyn Jaeschke is south-east of the Clare township, in the heart of the Polish Hill River. Planted on grey loam over sandy limestone and shale rock, these vines produce tight Rieslings.

No.2 is a dry style, showcasing many of the refinements typical of the Polish Hill River. The limestone and shale rock soil profile are reflected in the wine with mineral and slate notes.

 

No.2 POLISH HILL RIVER RIESLING 2023
Bottle Shot

The Polish Hill River vineyard, owned by Robert and Lyn Jaeschke is south-east of the Clare township, in the heart of the Polish Hill River. Planted on grey loam over sandy limestone and shale rock, these vines produce tight Rieslings.

No.2 is a dry style, showcasing many of the refinements typical of the Polish Hill River. The limestone and shale rock soil profile are reflected in the wine with mineral and slate notes.

“The fruit for this 2023 No. 2 is from Polish Hill River, a subregion in Clare Valley. On the nose, there’s juniper berry and cassis, thyme and rosemary, green apple skin and brine. The fruit on the mouth is fleshy and concentrated—the shape of it is almost round—but don’t mistake this for soft. The phenolics are firm on the tongue and on the back of the palate. This is a structural Riesling, and it is one with great power and density through the finish. Very impressive. I love the finish on this wine. It’s feathered, talcy, textural and flavorsome. 11.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.” – 96 Points – Erin Larkin – The Wine Advocate

 

No.10 ZENITH ‘PINNACLE’ RIESLING 2022
Bottle Shot

Zenit is a German name, meaning pinnacle. This wine was born when Belinda and John searched for the best wine they could blend from the hallmark 2017 vintage for their own wedding.

Made only in selected years, from a blend of Clare and Eden vineyards that are the best representation of the vintage.

 

No.12 FLAXMAN VALLEY RIESLING 2023
Bottle Shot

Rieslingfreak No.12 is harvested from individually selected vines from the Zander and Bartholomaeus family vineyards in Flaxman Valley in High Eden, a premium sub-region of Eden Valley. Renown for growing world-class Riesling of unrivalled elegance, this wine captures the very essence of the High Eden subregion in all its splendour. First released in 2021 to celebrate John’s achievement as being heralded as Barossa’s Winemaker of the Year, this wine celebrates the beauty of High Eden Riesling via a distinctive and highly perfumed bouquet, and elegantly structured palate.

“Dried floral bouquet, reserved and minerally, a suggestion of boronia. There’s not a skerrick of sweetness in this wine. The 9.2 grams per litre of acidity ensures it’s crisp and dry mineral on the finish. Has the regional bouquet of dried flowers, citrus blossoms, a bit more singular. Very dry, rather austere, destined for the cellar for a few years although it would be delicious now with a piece of fish. Great potential.” – 95 Points – Huon Hooke – The Real Review

“This is so dry, intense and acidic, that it almost hurts. Yet there is a core of juicy extract, ready to unwind. Thai lime, betel leaf and tonic, with a whiff of guava and talc. From the Flaxman Valley sub-region of Eden Valley, this mid-weighted Riesling is reminiscent of steely domestic expressions of yore, without the brittle acidity. Long and beautifully streamlined, this screams for bottle age. Drinkable now, but best from 2028. Screw cap.” – 95 Points – James Suckling

“This stunning High Eden Riesling instantly delivers with tense aromas of wet stones, apricot, spice and kaffir lime with youthful impact and energy. An explosive palate follows, that vitality and power remaining strong while keeping its composure through to a finish of exceptional length. Benchmark Eden Riesling. 2026-2038” – 97 Points – Angus Hughson – The Vintage Journal

 

No.6 CLARE VALLEY AGED RELEASE RIESLING 2017
Bottle Shot

The No.6 is harvested from the family vineyard, situated in White Hutt, Clare Valley. The grapes are grown on a small area of grey clay over limestone adjacent to a creek, with the vines planted in an east/west direction. The unique microclimate and soil type of this particular patch of grapes imparts a delicacy of flavour and elegant structure to the wine that is perfectly suited to long-term cellaring. Remarkably vibrant and still imbued with the zest of youth, this wine is refined and mineraldriven with a purity and linearity not often seen, even among the very best Clare Rieslings.

 

No.1 GROUNDS OF GRANDEUR RIESLING 2020
Bottle Shot

The 2020 Rieslingfreak No.1 is the second release of this icon Riesling. Rieslingfreak No.1 Grounds of Grandeur Riesling pays respect to the individual vineyard, the grower, and the grapes by showcasing the best of the vintage. Situated 5km South-East of the Clare township, Rob and Lyn Jaeschke’s Polish Hill River vineyard is on grey-brown loam over sandy limestone and shale rock. The Riesling vines are approximately 14 years old, planted on 38-year-old root stock.

Hand-picked on the 20th February 2020, the grapes were placed in cold storage for 48 hours, ensuring they were nice and cool prior to whole bunch pressing the following day. The juice was pressed lightly to a stainless-steel tank, taking only the most pristine free run juice at 420L/T. The juice was settled for 5 days prior to racking into barrel, then allowed to slowly warm naturally prior to wild fermentation with 100% indigenous yeast to complete dryness. The wine stayed on lees for 10 months prior to racking in November 2020, then matured quietly in barrel for a further 12 months until late November 2021 when it was prepared for bottling.

 

No.5 CLARE VALLEY OFF DRY RIESLING 2023
Bottle Shot

Sourced from the family vineyards at White Hut, No.5 is harvested from a site that has shale grey soils over limestone, giving a lighter style wine. Fermentation is stopped early, to preserve a fruit driven hint of sweetness.

“Beautiful floral, honeysuckle, lime, talc scented, highly aromatic bouquet: there’s the sense that the residual sugar is lifting the fruit, which is often the way in off-dry and semi-sweet style rieslings. Exquisite aromas, a note of stone-fruits, the taste off-dry but you would never describe it as sweet. It dries off towards the back-palate with a lot of acidity. Beautifully balanced, a magical wine. The most gorgeous wine on the day. (From the Hughes family’s White Hutt vineyard. 13 grams/litre of sweetness. On the riesling scale: half-way through the medium-dry section)” – 96 Points – Huon Hooke – The Real Review

“The fruit for this 2023 No. 5 was picked earlier to harness the natural acidity in order to balance the sweetness. It hails from the same vineyard as the Riesling No. 3 (White Hutt in northern Clare Valley) and is picked three days earlier. Thirteen grams per liter of residual sugar remain in this wine. The 2023 No. 5 is spicy and very fine, with lychee, jasmine, white tea, bath salts and nashi pear. This is fuzzy and flowery and pretty, but it has wicked line and tension through the mid-palate onwards. It’s a powerful wine cloaked in softness and approachability. Not to be underestimated, there’s a dual personality here and very well played. This is one of the greatest off-dry Rieslings in Australia. 10.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.” – 95 Points – Erin Larkin – The Wine Advocate

 

No.8 SCHATZKAMMER POLISH HILL RIVER RIESLING 2023
Bottle Shot

Schatzkammer, translated from German means a type of Cabinet, a tip of the hat from John to the styles of wine (Kabinett) from the Mosel that first inspired him to pursue making only expressions of Riesling. Residual sugar for this vintage is 53 grams per litre.

“This is the greatest wine to make, the greatest to drink and the hardest to sell”- John Hughes

“The fruit for this wine is from Polish Hill River in Clare Valley. This carries 35 grams per liter of residual sugar and a minuscule (and pleasing) 8% alcohol. Exotic dry spices adorn the nose of this 2023 No. 8, with saffron curls, a hint of turmeric, jasmine in burgeoning summer, apple skins and nashi pear. In the mouth, this has crushed rocks and brine, fleshy fruit and feather-fine phenolics. All in all, this is harmonious and pristine, lingering, light, long and exciting—this is very exciting Riesling. There are hints of Geraldton wax and beeswax through the finish—just a mere dusting, like a waft on a summer breeze. There is leafiness and movement here too, in a dappled way. This is an outrageous $37 AUD retail, which is absurd. It is great for us, the drinkers, but surely it can’t always be this way. I’ve done my future self a favor and bought a box of this. 8% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. It might be a challenge to make great, off-dry/sweet Riesling, but I can confirm it is not a challenge to drink them. Collect (and consume) with impunity.” – 97+ Points – Erin Larkin – The Wine Advocate

 

No.7 FORTIFIED RIESLING NV
Bottle Shot

Harvested at the same time as Rieslingfreak No.3. The juice is partially fermented to 7-8 baume (approx. 140g/L sugar) then fortified with a neutral brandy spirit. Stored in old oak casks to develop for 2 to 4 years. The wine looks similar to a white port, whilst still retaining the Riesling aromatics and flavours.