2015 Mitchell McNicol Riesling, Clare Valley

A concentrated, rich and powerful riesling with maturity on its side, yet innate freshness as a motif. Gingerbread meets cumquat with lemongrass, tonic water, piquant, peppery elements, a touch of honeycomb and fresh nectarine and lime fruitiness. It sits in the zone of medium weight, shows off its powdery and waxy textural elements of maturity while delivering strong bolstering elements of bright grapefruit and saline minerality through the finish. So much going on, and so good.

96 points winecompanion.com.au

Mitchell McNicol Riesling from the Clare Valley is a rare and special release — a bottle-aged, estate-grown Riesling held back for nearly a decade before release to showcase the variety’s remarkable ability to evolve in bottle. Sourced from dry-grown vines planted in 1965 on the McNicol vineyard in the hills east of Sevenhill, this wine reflects the Mitchell family’s deep commitment to site expression, patience, and old-school Clare craftsmanship.

The vineyard sits on lean, gravelly soils over clay, contributing both structure and minerality. The grapes are hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed, with fermentation in stainless steel to preserve freshness. The wine is then cellared at the winery under ideal conditions for up to 8–10 years before release, allowing it to develop the complex toasty, honeyed layers Riesling lovers chase — without you having to wait.

In the glass, it shows lemon-gold colour with lifted aromas of lime zest, beeswax, toast, white florals and slate. The palate is dry and tightly focused, with layers of citrus, green apple and lanolin, underpinned by Clare’s hallmark bracing acidity. As it opens, it reveals hints of almond, aged lemon and wet stone, finishing long, savoury and incredibly precise.

Food pairing: Brilliant with freshly shucked oysters, grilled whiting, pork belly with apple, or Thai green curry. Also excellent with aged Gruyère or washed rind cheeses.

Cellar potential: Already aged to near perfection, but will continue to evolve gracefully over the next 5 to 10 years.