2021 Adelina Polish Hill River Riesling, Clare Valley

Adelina's Polish Hill River Riesling is drawn from Lyn and Robert Jaeschke's Hill River Estate, planted in 2000 at 460 metres above sea level on grey-brown loam over shale and sandy limestone. 

Col's preference is always to pick the fruit relatively early to retain acidity but also avoid TDN, the compound responsible for giving the kerosene character sometimes found in Rieslings where the grapes have been exposed to excess sun. The fruit was destemmed and crushed before pressing, then the free-run juice was settled, racked and fermented to dryness. 

At 10.2% alcohol--and with rapier-like 9.9 g/L acidity--this is the more tensile and austere of Adelina's two 2021 Clare Rieslings. Subtle kaffir lime, jasmine and saline notes build as this sits in the glass and there is palpable intensity to the fruit on the long, dazzling finish. The 2021 is a classic in the making and, while it can be enjoyed now with sashimi or grilled whiting, there is a feeling it will evolve and become more complex over the next ten, if not twenty, years. Do we need to mention the value on offer?

"Tight and intense, lemon-lime, a stony and shell-like texture, nervy and zesty, with a racy slightly sappy finish of good length. I reckon it needs a year or two to settle down."

93+ Gary Walsh, The Wine Front