2025 Howard Park Flint Rock Riesling, Great Southern

A cracking Riesling from the Great Southern region in Western Australia, which is also seriously good value. 2025 is proving to be an excellent vintage. This is a regional selection, and fruit is sourced from three of the Great Southern sub-regions, Mount Barker, Porongurup and Frankland River. Each vineyard was made discretely in stainless steel tanks, with a long and cold fermentation. Pale lemon in colour, the nose gives us notes of citrus, florals, grapefruit pith, lemon curd, oyster shells and a minerally backing. The wine has focus, excellent balance and very good length, with good concentration throughout. A really impressive Riesling which is great buying, it has room for further improvement. Enjoy it over the next twelve to fifteen years.

94 points Ken Gargett for Wine Pilot

While the wine shows hallmark regional, racy and scintillating acidity, there's a bit more juiciness and bandwidth. Red apple, gingery spice, lime juice, some lemon curd and lemongrass characters as the talking points. Perhaps just a touch breathy and hot with acid, but a good deal of whipcrack and thirst-quenching nature nonetheless. Drink to 2031.

92 points Mike Bennie for Halliday Wine Companion, July 2026

Long regarded as one of Australia's finest regions for Riesling, the Great Southern produces wines of remarkable purity, tension and longevity. Howard Park has been instrumental in showcasing the region's potential since the winery was established by the Burch family in 1986. Drawing fruit from premium vineyards across the Great Southern, the Flint Rock range captures the vibrant personality and pristine fruit character that have made this cool climate region internationally respected.

The 2025 vintage delivered ideal conditions for Riesling, with cool nights and warm, sunny days encouraging slow ripening and exceptional flavour development. Ancient gravelly soils and cooling Southern Ocean influences contribute the crisp acidity and mineral drive that define the wine. Careful handling in the winery preserves freshness, allowing the fruit and regional character to take centre stage.

Pale straw with brilliant green highlights, the bouquet is bright and lifted with aromas of lime zest, lemon blossom and green apple layered with hints of jasmine and crushed quartz. The palate is lively and beautifully focused, delivering flavours of finger lime, grapefruit and crisp apple supported by vibrant acidity and a fine mineral backbone. The texture is pure and precise, flowing into a long, refreshing finish with lingering citrus and stony notes.

This is a wonderful partner for freshly shucked oysters, grilled King George whiting, kingfish sashimi, Thai prawn salad or a goat's cheese and herb tart. Equally enjoyable as an aperitif, it showcases the energy, elegance and food friendly nature that make Great Southern Riesling one of Australia's greatest white wine styles.