2026 Rieslingfreak No 5 Riesling Off-Dry, Clare Valley

Some of the most charming, easy-to-drink, fun wines on the planet are made from riesling in an off-dry style. This doesn't miss a trick. It has the skittish crimps and crackles of saline minerality found in bone-dry riesling, but offers up the gentle lip-plumping of honeyed citrus and red apple fruitiness that are the tells of residual sugar. There's no sense of 'sweet wine' here, just a textural nod and a fruitiness. The balance is sublime. Wildly drinkable and charming. Drink to 2030.

95 points & Special Value Mike Bennie for Halliday Wine Companion, September 2026

John Hughes has built Rieslingfreak around a simple belief that Riesling deserves to be celebrated in all its forms. Each numbered wine explores a different style, and No. 5 is his vibrant off dry expression, proving that a touch of natural sweetness can add generosity and charm without sacrificing freshness. Crafted from the Hughes family vineyard, it is a wonderful showcase of Clare Valley Riesling at its most expressive.

The fruit is harvested from the family vineyard at White Hutt, just north of the Clare township. Here, grey clay over limestone and an east west vine orientation consistently produce fruit with remarkable elegance, generous flavour and naturally high acidity. The exceptional 2026 vintage delivered beautifully balanced fruit, making it an ideal year for this exquisitely poised off dry style.

Pale straw with bright green highlights, the bouquet is wonderfully aromatic with scents of sweet red apple, white peach and mandarin intertwined with orange blossom and honeysuckle. The palate is luscious and beautifully layered, revealing flavours of apple crisp, apricot and ripe nectarine. A gentle thread of natural sweetness brings richness through the mid palate before vibrant, sherbet like acidity takes over, driving the wine to a long, crisp and mouthwatering finish.

Perfect with Thai green curry, Vietnamese rice paper rolls, glazed pork, spicy Korean fried chicken or a creamy blue cheese. Delightfully approachable on release, this off dry Riesling also has the balance and freshness to develop beautifully with time in the cellar.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2042.