2015 Jim Barry Spring Farm Block 114 Riesling, Clare Valley

This has plenty of character, lots of textural nuance, a savoury edge and refreshing citrus fruit profile. Lavender floral lift, some jasmine notes, a bit of black tea, lime, ginger, sugared almonds, red apple juice all in play. Quite compact but also has quite a bit of concentration. Plenty of drive; energy in spades with the coursing profile of briny acidity. A bolder riesling that makes it all work beautifully. Drink 2025 to 2033.

96 points Mike Bennie for Halliday Wine Companion, February 2025

Mineral-edged aromas of lime juice, gunsmoke, struck match, lemon curd and shortcrust pastry. The light-bodied, high-tension palate has racy acidity as well as great length and power. Really well-balanced with a lot of freshness waiting to blossom. Released after 10 years in bottle. Drink or hold.

95 points James Suckling, April 2025

Light straw-gold hue. Candied peel, glacé ginger and buttered toast aromas. Powerful intensity on entry. Mandarin, glacé ginger and toasty characters are all mingling across the tongue, bound by fine acidity. Great length and drive, finishing dry with a sense of fuzzy grip at the conclusion. Drink 2025 to 2033.

94 points Stuart Knox for The Real Review, February 2025

The 2015 Spring Farm Block 114 Riesling is from a vineyard site planted in 1977 at 453 meters in elevation, with a northwesterly aspect, on brown loam over red-brown mottled clays. In terms of the way the Spring Farm Block 18 and this Spring Farm Block 114 face, we couldn't have two more different aspects. One faces south, with little direct sunshine, at a higher elevation, while this is at a slightly lower elevation and faces northwest—arguably the hottest way to face, taking in the full brunt of the daytime sunshine, with no reprieve from the setting sun. To mitigate the impact of the sun in this way, the fruit is picked earlier than the south-facing Block 18. This block is dry grown, with lower yields, and so, it naturally ripens earlier. The wine in the glass shows more inherent volume and structure, with toasty notes woven through the preserved citrus fruit characters. The acidity that dwells within the fruit remains undiminished by time, and this spears the wine across the palate like a javelin. This is a very impressive wine here—and gratefully accepted at 10 years old at release. Drink 2025 to 2035.

93 points Erin Larkin for The Wine Advocate, September 2025

The 2015 Riesling Spring Farm Block 114 is more forward than the Block 18. It’s showing honeyed and buttery aromatic complexity over a backdrop of tropical fruits. Punchy acidity is still well in play but overall the plush texture showcases this is at its peak for a little while longer. Drink 2025 to 2028.

93 points Angus Hughson for Vinous, August 2025

Jim Barry first planted vines on the Spring Farm property in 1977, drawn by the altitude and cool growing conditions of this elevated Clare Valley site. The property has been developed steadily by the family ever since, with its best individual blocks now bottled separately under the Spring Farm label. Recent additions to the range, the wines have already attracted serious attention.

Block 114 sits in the southwest corner of the Spring Farm property. The parcel was originally purchased and planted by Brian Barry in 1977 and acquired by Jim Barry Wines in 2006. The growing season here is long and cool thanks to an altitude of 470 metres. This yields wines with naturally low alcohol and the kind of fine mineral acidity that is the foundation of great Clare Valley Riesling. Block 114 ripens earlier than the neighbouring parcels and consistently produces fruit of lean, focused intensity.

Winemaker Sam Barry releases the Spring Farm Rieslings after a full decade in bottle, a deliberate and confident choice that allows the wine to reach what the family describes as its full bottle-ageing potential. Ten years on, this is a Riesling of real presence and complexity. Fragrant and lifted on the nose, aromas of lime, lemon curd, jasmine and a whisper of struck match lead to a palate that is simultaneously lean and concentrated, driven by coursing, briny acidity and a long mineral finish.

Clare Valley Riesling at this age and quality level is one of Australian wine's most rewarding experiences. The 2015 Block 114 feels energised, with layers of flavour still unfolding.

Pour alongside freshly shucked oysters with fingerlime or steamed fish with ginger. Enjoy now or cellar with confidence for a further five to eight years.