2025 Rieslingfreak No 3 Riesling, Clare Valley

Rieslingfreak No 3 Riesling from Clare Valley is a vibrant, dry, and intensely aromatic wine that captures the power and clarity of Clare’s classic Watervale subregion. Crafted by John Hughes, the self-declared Riesling obsessive behind the Rieslingfreak label, No 3 is one of the core wines in the collection and represents Clare at its most expressive and fruit-forward. Each Rieslingfreak wine is given a number to indicate both its origin and style, and No 3 is always Clare Valley and always dry.

The fruit is sourced primarily from the celebrated White Hutt vineyard just north of Clare town, sitting at around 450 metres elevation. Soils are classic red loam over limestone, ideal for growing Riesling with intensity and drive. The vineyard enjoys warm days and very cool nights, allowing grapes to ripen fully while retaining natural acidity and aromatic lift. The result is fruit with powerful flavour, brilliant acidity and a clear sense of place.

John Hughes handles the grapes with great care, pressing them gently and fermenting at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks using selected neutral yeasts. The wine is fermented to dryness but maintains a textural richness and fruit sweetness thanks to ripe, perfectly balanced fruit.

In the glass, No 3 opens with a heady perfume of lime cordial, lemon blossom, kaffir lime leaf and crushed herbs. There are hints of mandarin peel, white nectarine and green apple, all underpinned by a chalky, mineral lift. On the palate, it’s zesty and full of citrus energy, with flavours of lime juice, finger lime and green melon balanced by fine acidity and a faint hint of talc. The texture is crisp and slightly juicy, with a long, snappy finish that keeps things refreshing and mouth-watering.

It’s a brilliant wine with food. Pair it with spicy Thai salads, grilled prawns with lemongrass, soft goat’s cheese, or crispy pork belly with apple and fennel. Although beautifully expressive young, it also cellars confidently for 8 to 12 years, evolving into something more toasty and honeyed with bottle age.

Rieslingfreak No 3 consistently wins praise for its clarity and drive, often featured among Australia’s best-value Rieslings. It’s a flagship wine for both Hughes and the Watervale subregion, offering exceptional quality and vibrancy vintage after vintage.