2013 Wines by KT Peglidis Riesling, Watervale Reserve Release, Clare Valley

Shares some of the flavour and structure characteristics of Melva, although this wine is presumably fermented with cultured yeast; it is the most focused and pure of all five '13 KT Rieslings, with beautifully weighted fruit and acid contributions, the finish and aftertaste as fresh as a spring breeze.

96 points James Halliday winecompanion.com.au 27 July 2014

Bright, light yellow colour, youthful for its age, and the bouquet is likewise young and reserved with a note of toast, paraffin wax and lemon pith. It's fresh and bright, youthfully vibrant and alive, with a refined, dry palate of great purity and balance. Intense flavours of lemon pith, lemon peel and a hint of beeswax, the texture seamless and flowing. Impressive and delicious. (This is a special bottling which was never released as a young wine) 13 Oct 2017

96 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com

Wines by KT Peglidis Riesling Watervale Reserve Release is a beautifully pure and finely honed expression of Clare Valley Riesling, drawn from one of the region’s most prized subregions. Watervale has long been the spiritual home of Australian Riesling, with its red loam over limestone soils and slightly cooler mesoclimate producing wines of perfume, line and remarkable longevity. It is a place where Riesling feels completely at home.

Wines by KT is the project of winemaker Katherine Tolley, whose hands on, thoughtful approach has quickly earned a loyal following. Working with carefully selected Watervale fruit, she aims to capture clarity and site character rather than winemaking gloss. The Reserve Release is a special cuvée, held back to allow the wine to develop before being released, showing how beautifully Clare Riesling evolves with time.

In the glass, this wine is expressive and complex, with lime zest, lemon blossom and green apple, layered with emerging notes of toast, honey and subtle talc. The palate is finely structured and mouthwatering, with bright citrus fruit carried by racy acidity and a long, chalky finish. Time in bottle has added depth without sacrificing freshness.

This is a natural partner for food. Fresh seafood, grilled fish, schnitzel, Vietnamese and Thai dishes, or goat’s cheese all work beautifully, with the acidity cutting through and refreshing the palate.

Wines by KT Peglidis Riesling Watervale Reserve Release is drinking beautifully now, but it still has a long future ahead. Expect it to continue evolving over another ten to fifteen years, gaining further complexity and savoury nuance. It is a stunning reminder of just how good Watervale Riesling can be when given time.