2025 Rieslingfreak No. 2 Polish Hill River Riesling

96 pts
Stunning single-site Clare Valley Riesling from the modern Riesling master that is John Hughes.

Price:
Sale price$35.00
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Description

Sourced from a single block in the celebrated Polish Hill River subregion, this is elite Australian Riesling at its most precise and pure.

The 2025 No. 2 comes from the Jaeschke family vineyard, planted on grey-brown loam over sandy limestone and shale - a site John and Belinda Hughes consider among their very best. The 2025 vintage, despite a frost that slashed yields by over 70%, has delivered fruit of remarkable intensity and expression.

Expect a nose alive with fresh green apple, jasmine, pomelo, and hints of passionflower and lime. The palate is crisp and silky, with a talc-like minerality lending a slippery texture beneath Granny Smith apple and yuzu flavours.

That classic iron bar of acidity provides a spine of electric length, finishing clean and pure. A benchmark Riesling from this renowned subregion and sadly in very limited supply this year so don't hesitate.

96 points
"A shimmery, lightweight and ultra-pure riesling of high perfume, substantial minerality and wonderful delicacy... Don't expect power, but relax into the strikingly mouth-watering and refreshing nature of this light, fine-boned wine. Drink in its vigorous youth."
- Mike Bennie (Halliday Wine Companion)

96 points - "A shimmery, lightweight and ultra-pure riesling of high perfume, substantial minerality and wonderful delicacy. This is all gossamer and lace, trickles and rivulets of saline and brine in ultra-tart grapefruit juice, dashes of green herb, a touch of white pepper. It's skeletal and connected by pinpricks of flavour, but all of it adds up so clearly into a very elite wine. Don't expect power, but relax into the strikingly mouth-watering and refreshing nature of this light, fine-boned wine. Drink in its vigorous youth." - Mike Bennie (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points - "Expressive and tightly wound aromas of lime cordial, white pepper, jasmine, crushed stones, green mangoes and white peaches. The palate is mineral-driven, with bright acidity and stony tension driving notes of grapefruit, lemon pith and wet slate. Long and focused. Drink or hold. Screw cap." - Ryan Montgomery (James Suckling)

Customer Reviews

Sourced from the Polish Hill River vineyard, situated 5km south-east of the Clare township. The vineyard is owned by Rob and Lyn Jaeschke, who purchased it from Penfolds in 2010. The vineyard is planted on grey-brown loam based soils, over sandy limestone and shale rock. The Riesling vines are approximately 15 years old, planted on 40-year-old root stock.

The bouquet is highly perfumed with aromas of fresh green apple, jasmine, and pomelo, with hints of passionflower and fresh lime juice. The palate is crisp yet silky-soft, with a fine, talc-like minerality imparting a pleasing slipperiness to the texture. Bright flavours of Granny Smith apple and yuzu run a fine line between sweet and tart, while the elegant and complex palate is punctuated with an electric line of acidity, imparting exceptional length and a clean, crisp finish.

Alc: 10.9% | Residual Sugar: 0.72g/L | pH: 2.72 | TA: 9.5g/L

Price Bracket $30 or Less
Type White
Body Light Bodied
Variety Riesling
Variety Style ["Dry Riesling"]
Country Australia
Region Clare Valley
Australian State SA
Feature High Score
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
James Suckling
Critic Score 96
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
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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