Neil Pike’s name is synonymous with Clare Valley wine, and after four decades of dedication at Pikes Wines, he could easily have chosen a quiet retirement. Instead, the man with the "Midas touch" in Riesling has embarked on a personal passion project—Limefinger. This label might carry a tongue-in-cheek nickname, but it’s no joke. Limefinger represents Neil Pike at his finest, crafting small batches of Riesling that reflect his deep expertise and a lifetime of learnings from Clare Valley’s best subregions.
Neil Pike’s fingerprints are all over Clare Valley’s wine legacy. Having spent 40 years building the success of Pikes Wines, he retired in 2020, but the lure of Riesling remained irresistible. “I truly love making wine, Riesling in particular, and I certainly love drinking it,” Neil reflects. Limefinger, his so-called “retirement project,” allows him to continue his Riesling journey on his own terms. Sourcing grapes from trusted growers and his own home vineyard, Limefinger is focused on small-batch, high-quality Riesling production with sustainability at its core.
“I truly love making wine, Riesling in particular, and I certainly love drinking it...”
- Neil Pike
The playful moniker was coined by Gary Walsh of The Wine Front, and it perfectly sums up Neil’s deft touch with Clare Valley Riesling. Limefinger’s initial vintages quickly gained a cult following, with bottles snapped up as soon as they were released. His intimate knowledge of Clare’s terroir, particularly the Watervale and Polish Hill subregions, has helped Limefinger achieve critical acclaim within just a few years, cementing Pike’s reputation as a Riesling virtuoso.
"Grosset gets so many accolades as a Riesling Master, but Neil Pike is the man for me..."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
The 2024 Release:
Despite the challenges of the 2024 vintage, including Spring frosts and a dry Summer, Neil Pike has once again produced two outstanding Rieslings under the Limefinger label: The Learnings Watervale and The Solace Polish Hill River.
The 2024 Learnings Watervale Riesling comes from the St Clare Gardens vineyard, a site Neil has long admired for its red loam over limestone soils. With 1,230 bottles produced, this Riesling is an energetic wine designed for instant enjoyment. It bursts with aromas of peach and citrus, tempered by crisp acidity and a subtle touch of blossom sweetness. As it ages, it promises to develop the classic Watervale notes of toast and honey, rewarding those with patience. Mike Bennie from Halliday Wine Companion has praised the 2024 release, noting its “classic stuff but so even, flavoursome, bright,” while Gary Walsh calls it “succulent and lovely, with a charge of ‘mineral’ things...fresh and electric.”
The 2024 Solace Polish Hill River Riesling is sourced from Neil’s home block, and it’s a more structured and textural wine. Often shy in its youth, the wine unfurls over time to reveal layers of lime, grapefruit, and lemon butter. Only 2,330 bottles were made, and it’s a true expression of Polish Hill River’s minerality and finesse. “The intensity and drive is phenomenal,” says Mike Bennie, while Walsh hails it as an “ultra-mineral and cool expression of Riesling.” With the ability to age for up to a decade, this Riesling is a prime candidate for cellaring, with its steely spine and refined texture likely to evolve into something truly special.
"The ’24 vintage has been another really good year for Limefinger despite the challenges of Spring frosts and a dry Summer.
Both wines are very much in the Limefinger style and sit comfortably alongside the best wines from past releases in quality terms."
- Neil Pike
As Limefinger continues to grow, Neil Pike shows no signs of slowing down. The 2024 release not only stands comfortably alongside the finest wines of his storied career but also proves that his passion for Riesling remains as strong as ever. His intimate understanding of Clare Valley’s terroir shines through every bottle, and while Limefinger may be small in production, it’s large in ambition and quality.
For Riesling lovers, Neil Pike’s Limefinger label is already becoming an essential part of the Clare Valley landscape, a true showcase of one man’s lifelong dedication to his craft.
“I’ve found peace and Solace in growing and making these wines, and I hope they bring the same joy to those who drink them.”
- Neil Pike