2024 Rieslingfreak No. 5 Clare Valley Off Dry Riesling

Highly Rated
Perfectly balanced off-dry Riesling from the passionate and highly-skilled John Hughes.
4.5
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
15 Reviews

Price:
Sale price$24.00
Stock:
Sold out
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Description

There are few off-dry styles of Riesling in Australia that are executed as well as this offering from Riesling fanatic, John Hughes.

The balance in this release is excellent. The ripeness of fruit and the laser-like acidity all lends itself perfectly to make this more 'Germanic' expression of the Clare Valley. It's a wine you could happily drink straight away, or hold onto it for later (if you can resist).

This wine style matches perfectly with spicy dishes and has the balance to drink brilliantly on its own.

97 points
"Look away if you don’t want to be utterly seduced, for you have now been warned. In a vintage such as 2024 the off dry styles of riesling from Rieslingfreak are something to be savoured...  This is magnificent stuff. Drink with Prawn Cheung Fun and glory in a pairing fit for kings."
- Shanteh Wale (Wine Pilot)

96 points
"I'm a sucker for a good off-dry riesling (here, it's 13g/L RS), and this certainly ticks a lot of boxes for me... There's a real tension to this wine, a pressure-like interplay between RS and acidity that releases with a long, purely fruited draw on the finish, seeming drier than you'd expect as the acidity tempers that gentle sweetness beautifully. Bravo."
- Dave Brookes (Halliday Wine Companion)

97 points - "Look away if you don’t want to be utterly seduced, for you have now been warned. In a vintage such as 2024 the off dry styles of riesling from Rieslingfreak are something to be savoured. Cascading star jasmine, mock orange and gardenias are blooming. A trickle of fresh running stream over blue stone. Lily pily, pomelo and golden kiwi. A crunch of green apple on the palate leads to a tickle of sweetness in all the right places. It will make you giggle till you groan. For there is tension and energy in every sip. A sake-like freshness and transparency of Clare Valley fruit that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. This is magnificent stuff. Drink with Prawn Cheung Fun and glory in a pairing fit for kings." - Shanteh Wale (Wine Pilot)

96 points - "I'm a sucker for a good off-dry riesling (here, it's 13g/L RS), and this certainly ticks a lot of boxes for me. The palest of straw and green flashes in the glass with fruit tones of lime, green apple, white peach and crunchy nectarine. Hints of citrus blossom, riverstone, wildflowers, starfruit and apple sorbet. There's a real tension to this wine, a pressure-like interplay between RS and acidity that releases with a long, purely fruited draw on the finish, seeming drier than you'd expect as the acidity tempers that gentle sweetness beautifully. Bravo." - Dave Brookes (Halliday Wine Companion)

96 points - "Winemaker John Hughes insists that off-dry Riesling must have good acid and not just concentrate on its sugar profile, and the acid here ensures a clean streak that shapes the deft perfume and focused entry. A fleshy mid-palate texture rolls seductively, adding verve and energy to an assertive flavour profile that promotes a luscious, sexy mouthfeel. This careful exercise in balance drinks dry, with its 13g/L of residual sugar merely adding a lick of fruit sweetness to brace the palate." - David Sly (Decanter)

Customer Reviews

4.5
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
Based on 15 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 9 Total 4 star reviews: 4 Total 3 star reviews: 2 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
15 reviews
  • CW
    Cheryl W.
    Verified Buyer
    32 minutes ago
    2024 Rieslingfreak No. 5 Clare Valley Off Dry Riesling
    Reviewing
    2024 Rieslingfreak No. 5 Clare Valley Off Dry Riesling
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Great tasting Riesling

    Really liked the crispness and the rich tropical fruit flavour. Will Order again I am sure

  • SZ
    stan z.
    Verified Buyer
    3 months ago
    2024 Rieslingfreak No. 5 Clare Valley Off Dry Riesling
    Reviewing
    2024 Rieslingfreak No. 5 Clare Valley Off Dry Riesling
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Perfect summer wine

    Crisp acid, nice flavour with a kiss of sweetness.

  • NB
    Neil B.
    Verified Buyer
    5 months ago
    2023 Rieslingfreak No. 5 Clare Valley Off Dry Riesling
    Reviewing
    2023 Rieslingfreak No. 5 Clare Valley Off Dry Riesling
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Riesling

    Up there with the best

Reviews LoadedReviews Added

Rieslingfreak No.5, like No.3 is made from the family vineyard, but with the grapes harvested from a vineyard with lighter soils therefore providing a lighter style of wine.

The grapes are harvested earlier in the season, to provide a wine that is slightly less in alcohol. Being ‘off dry’ the sugar level can vary each vintage, pending on the season, normally between 11-15g/L. The sugar is balanced nicely with the acid, providing a fruit driven style with a hint of sweetness. The wine drinks well on release, or will reward with cellaring.

Region: Clare Valley, SA
Blend: Riesling (100%)
ABV:
Closure: 750ml
Bottle Size:
Production:

Price Bracket $30 or Less
Type White
Sub Type Riesling | Off-Dry
Body Light Bodied
Variety Riesling
Country Australia
Region Clare Valley
Australian State SA
Feature High Score
Reviewed By Wine Pilot
Halliday Wine Companion
Decanter
Critic Score 97
96
Size 750ml
Vintage 2024
Closure Screw Cap

Rieslingfreak

Rieslingfreak founder & winemaker John Hughes is quite simply making the most comprehensive, high-quality and remarkably priced range of Rieslings in the country.

Growing up in the family Riesling vineyard in Clare Valley, which John still farms today, Riesling simply runs through this man's blood. John, with the help of his talented winemaking wife Belinda, make only Riesling - not a bottle of any other variety - and they've honed their craft to a level unmatched in Australia.

They are two of the nicest people you're likely to meet, so wholeheartedly committed to their vision and craft, and we are proud to have worked so closely with them for so many years. These wines rank amongst the very best value to be found anywhere in Australia, and we give them our fullest recommendation. Enjoy!

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