2024 Watervale Riesling

Pale straw with green hues.  

Bright and zesty. Kaffir lime power, fresh squeezed lemon and lime juice, with a hint of fennel spice.

Palate has great depth of flavour with power, finesse, purity and natural acid balance.

Drink now or cellar for 15-20 years.

This vineyard has classic Watervale soils - red loam over limestone with a westerly aspect. A dry grown vineyard - meaning it relies only on natural rainfall - the vines are hand-pruned and fruit hand-picked. The limestone allows the soil to retain moisture, which assists the wine throughout periods of warm weather, almost drought-proofing in the summer months. Viticultrual practices include vertical shoot positioning, which not only encourages even ripening but provides important shade to prevent the impact of sunburn on the wine.

Fruit is harvested by hand and stored undercover, with approximately seven tonnes being picked in one day. The fruit is de-stemmed and crushed then gently pressed, resulting in a fine free-run cut and a pressings component, which are handled separately. 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.

Alcohol - 11.8%

pH - 3.09

Acidity - 7.6g/L

95 Points - QWine Reviews

"Always the prettier of the two O'Leary Walker Rieslings I find, this 2024 Watervale hits a home run once again. It's simply a high-quality glass of happiness. Pretty and zesty, this is a most enjoyable release. Pretty white field flowers and bath salts always feature and this 2024 is no different. Lemon juice, lime leaf and lime zest, there is a fine ribbon of quartz minerality tucked in behind. It leaves a vibrant trail highlighted by a sherbety tang. Devine. Beautiful drinking. Drink this while it's fresh on those hot summer days." - Steve Leszczynski