2022 Wines by KT Melva off-dry Riesling, Clare Valley

A wild-fermented riesling from the famed Peglidis vineyard. Raised in old French oak barrels on lees (with stirring). A singular expression from Kerri Thompson that aims to push boundaries for the regional staple. This release is a textural feast, chewy and savoury, scented like dried green apple, gin and tonic, alpine herbs and preserved lemon. Flavours are set amongst the grip and pucker of talc-like texture, albeit there's a juiciness inherent in the wine too. It tastes like apple juice shot through tonic water with a strong squeeze of lime. It's flavoursome, fuller than expected and a little breathy with nutty savouriness all working coherently. A complex, intriguing expression on hand.

94 points Mike Bennie winecompanion.com.au

KT is winemaker Kerri Thompson. Kerri graduated with a degree in oenology from Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1993, and thereafter made wine in McLaren Vale, Tuscany, Beaujolais and the Clare Valley, becoming well known as the Leasingham winemaker in the Clare Valley. She resigned from Leasingham in 2006 after seven years at the helm, and after a short break became winemaker at Crabtree. Here she is also able to make Wines by KT, sourcing the grapes from two local vineyards, one biodynamic, the other farmed with sulphur and copper sprays only.