Vickery


— Portfolio —

WATERVALE RIESLING 2024
Bottle Shot

From seven different vineyards, with vines dating back to 1975. The fruit was hand-harvested between March 16th and 25th, with each block picked separately at optimal ripeness. The grapes were immediately transported to the winery and pressed to avoid extended skin contact. A portion of pressings was included in the final blend to enhance structure, with the press cut taken early to minimize phenolic extraction.

Fermentation was carried out at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks, preserving freshness and purity. Once fermentation was complete, the wine was stabilized and filtered before bottling.

“Juicy lemons, crunchy green apples and green apple skin set the tone, there is even a hint of musk. Attractive field flowers add a gorgeous perfume as Bickfords lime cordial slides in underneath. A fine limestone minerality adds further appeal with a delicate talc texture seeing out a long and delicious finish. One of those ‘pour me a large glass’ kind of wines, this is an absolute beauty.” – 93 pts – Steve Leszczynski – Q Wine

“Near transparent yellow, this is beautifully perfumed. A wine of finesse and fragrance. The Master’s hard at work. The aromas include jasmine, lemon, grapefruit, limes and a touch of chalk. A wine which epitomises elegance and delicacy. There is fine minerally acidity, balance and intensity, and a very long finish. twelve to fifteen years.” – 94 pts – Ken Gargett – Wine Pilot

“Pale with a flash of green in the glass. Pristine aromas of freshly squeezed lime and green apple with hints of clover, citrus blossom, crush stone, markrut lime and lemongrass. Tautly stretched and mineral-laden, there is some great concentration of lime here and super nervy, precise finish travelling bone-dry and refreshing.” – 93 pts – Dave Brookes – Halliday

 

EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2024
Bottle Shot

The fruit for the 2024 Vickery Eden Valley Riesling comes from two key vineyard sites: the Mason family’s Woodcarvers Vineyard (planted in 2001) and Schubert’s Barty’s Block (planted in 1961). These sites, known for their altitude and cool-climate influence, contribute to the hallmark tension and drive of Eden Valley Riesling.

The 2024 growing season was dry, accelerating ripening and leading to an early harvest while maintaining full fruit expression at a lower baumé. To preserve purity and freshness, the fruit was pressed immediately after harvest, avoiding extended skin contact. True to the Vickery style, a portion of pressings was included in the final blend, contributing texture while ensuring an early press cut to minimize phenolic extraction. Fermentation took place in stainless steel at cool temperatures, capturing the clarity and minerality that define the region’s best Rieslings.

“Light lemon yellow with glints of lime in the light. Lemon curd, shortcrust pastry and meringue aromatics, Lively and fresh on the palate, lemon curd, lime zest and talcum notes all flow with a well-integrated acid net carrying them long. Finishes bright, clean and refreshing.” – 91 pts – Stuart Knox – The Real Review

“Think little white field flowers, green apple, Meyer lemon and a touch of limestone minerality, a chalky texture slowly pushes through the mouth. Long with an attractive moreishness, this is a more than approachable expression of the variety. Ready to go now but it will age if that’s your thing. All up, this is a very tidy wine and ready for one last dip in the pool. Drink now to embrace the freshness.” – 91 pts – Steve Leszczynski – Q Wine

“Pale lemon in colour, with green flecks, the nose is an intriguing mix of river stones, florals, grapefruit and wet slate. There is also a hint of beeswax. There is a good intensity here, drive, balance and focus, along with citrusy acidity and length. Love it and it will drink beautifully for twelve to twenty years.” – 94 pts – Ken Gargett – Wine Pilot

POLISH HILL RIESLING 2024
Bottle Shot

Sourced from the Paulett family’s Trillians Run single vineyard, situated in the now-iconic subregion of Polish Hill River and planted in 2004. A topsoil of red-brown clay loam lies over the famous blue slate subsoil that makes this area so special for Riesling. As with all Vickery wines, they champion their growers — and this wine is no exception. The initials of the grower, along with the vineyard and picking date, are printed on the front of every label.

“Here’s a wine that celebrates and marks the contribution of the great John Vickery to Australian wine, particularly in the realm of Riesling, where he remains the acknowledged master. This is a wine of precision and fineness, with a degree of delicacy that can tend to mask the penetration and power that sits within. It was a terrific season in the Polish Hill River region, and this comes from a vineyard grown by the Paulett family. There’s purity, there’s a degree of tension, and there’s a beautiful minerality. On the palate, a fine, precise acidity cuts through the slightly textured mouthfeel, striking a perfect balance. There’s a little of that slightly wet pebble character that heightens the minerally mouthfeel.It’s a wine that is drinking so well now, but in keeping with the Vickery tradition, it could handle extended cellaring.” – 95 pts – Ray Jordan – Wine Pilot

“Refined elegance with a minerally vibe, this debut release of the Vickery Polish Hill River Riesling is an absolute treat. Made by Riesling boss Keeda Zilm in the John Vickery tradition, this is a fabulous expression of the variety and the region. Sourced from the Paulette vineyard, this is a delight to drink. Citrus flowers and little white field flowers combine with green apples and limes that are lacy and juicy. Elegance is the word that I keep coming back to as it glides about. The fruit and acid walk hand in hand, the latter folding in with ease. Powdery feels coat the mouth on exit with a citrusy zip for good measure. In the zone right now but it will age beyond a decade. A steal for the asking price, big love for this. Drink to ten years+.” – 95 pts – Qwine

 

‘THE RESERVE’ WATERVALE RIESLING 2021
Bottle Shot

A single-vineyard expression from the Castine family’s ‘Hayshed’ Block, this Reserve Riesling represents the pinnacle of Watervale’s potential. The 2021 growing season, with its cooler conditions and increased rainfall, resulted in Rieslings of great energy and drive. Sitting at approximately 420m elevation, the ‘Hayshed’ Block has an east-west row orientation with a gentle west-facing aspect, ensuring optimal sunlight exposure for even ripening.

The fruit was handpicked and pressed immediately to prevent extended skin contact and over-extraction. A carefully judged portion of light pressings was included to enhance structure while maintaining balance and finesse. Aged in temperature-controlled conditions before release, this is a Riesling built for longevity, showcasing the precision and mineral backbone that define the best wines of Watervale.

“If one might state out the outset, this is a serious contender for the best value of the year. A brilliant wine, superbly handled, from a great vintage and, of course, a magic region. The fruit here hails from the Castine “Hayshed” block. There is early complexity here, but it will undoubtedly increase in the coming years. Very pale straw in colour, the nose exhibits notes of spices and limes. An array of lifted fragrances, this is both delicate and yet intense. There is elegance and the finish is incredibly persistent. Knife edge balance. What a cracking Riesling! And the value? This is as close to legalising theft as possible. An incredibly good buy. This has fifteen to twenty years ahead of it.” – 96 pts – Ken Gargett – Wine Pilot

 

‘THE RESERVE’ EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2021
Bottle Shot

Made only in exceptional years, the Reserve Riesling is selected from standout parcels within Eden Valley. The 2021 vintage, shaped by a cooler, wetter growing season, delivered wines with bright acidity and long-term cellaring potential. A single block within the Mason family’s Woodcarvers Vineyard (630m elevation) was identified for its extraordinary character and held separately from the main Eden Valley blend. The vineyard’s east-west row orientation on a southerly slope minimizes sun exposure, ensuring slow, even ripening. Managed with organic principles, the vineyard benefits from natural cover cropping and free-roaming cattle during winter.

Harvested at optimal flavour ripeness, the fruit was pressed immediately to avoid skin contact and phenolic extraction. A portion of light pressings was included to enhance structure and longevity, carefully finessed to maintain purity. The wine was aged under temperature-controlled conditions before release, capturing the hallmark minerality and drive of Eden Valley Riesling.

“This is a new wine for me amongst the Vickery Wines offerings. I’m glad I found it. From the stonkingly good 2021 vintage in the Eden Valley it shows all of the box ticking characters of a classic regional riesling. Pale with green flashes and aromas of Bickford’s lime cordial, Christmas lily, pressed wildflowers, crushed quartz, apple sorbet and grapefruit pith. Just the merest tweak of texture on a palate that is focused and true, finishing dry, long and moreish with plenty of mineral velocity.” – 95 pts – Dave Brookes – Hallidays Wine Companion