97 Points - Ken Gargett
O'Leary Walker's Polish Hill River Riesling is made from two organic certified vineyards in the Polish Hill River sub-region of the Clare Valley. These vineyards sit on sandstone and slate with much of the top soil littered with rock, proving just how tough the vines need to be to produce quality fruit. It is the slate of these vineyards (vs the limestone of Watervale), that differentiates the style of O'Leary Walker's Rieslings.
This 2024 O'Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling is a typically perfumed Clare Riesling with aromas of bath powder and a hint of musk sticks. The palate offers impressive vibrancy and intensity, with powerful florals, orange rind, lemon, lime notes with delicate crisp natural acidity rounding off this wonderfully structured wine.
"97 Points. The twin to the Watervale, this Polish Hill River Riesling, from the same stellar vintage, is spectacular stuff and brilliant buying. Trout stream clear, this is all riverstones, talc, florals, limes, spices, oystershell notes, lemon blossoms and grapefruit pith. Good intensity and a lingering, extremely long, finish, but along the way, impeccable balance and crunchy acidity. A Riesling for the ages. Drink for twenty plus years and grab as much as your cellar can hold. $35. Drink: 2024-2044+"- Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot.
"95 Points. The opposite in personality to Watervale Riesling, Polish Hill is all about Riesling energy and exuberance. Organically grown, for those wondering, Polish Hill arrives all bright and perky but underneath the citrussy exterior there is great concentration of fruit flavour. A drinker could get lost in the depths of that gorgeous middle palate such is the appeal of spiced apple with grapefruit, lemon, lime and citrus zest. Polish Hill offers a mix of spice and citrus all rolled tightly into one super perky, fresh, young Riesling. Another ripper from this top Clare Valley sub-region. Drink: 2024 - 2034. $35"- Jeni Port, winepilot.com.
