96 Points - Ken Gargett
O'Leary Walker's Watervale Riesling is made from a vineyard sitting on classic Watervale soils; red loam over limestone with a westerly aspect. A dry-grown vineyard - meaning it relies only on natural rainfall, the vines are hand-pruned and grapes picked by hand. The limestone of this site allows the soil to retain moisture, which assists the vine throughout periods of warm weather, almost drought-proofing in the summer months.
A product of another fantastic vintage, the 2024 O'Leary Walker Watervale Riesling delivers a quintessential Clare Valley Riesling brimming with lime and lemon notes with subtle undertones of wild fennel spice and an electric acid line. A Riesling of incredible purity and balance, this will again prove hugely popular with the many fans of this wine.
"96 Points. From a pair of Clare Riesling masters, comes a masterful pair of Clare Rieslings. This Watervale Riesling is simply superb. A very pale yellow, we have notes of grapefruits, talc, spices and florals with a minerally background. A wine of finesse, bright acidity, balance and great length. A scintillating Riesling with focus, this will be a joy any time over the next twelve to fifteen years. Early reports suggest that 2024 will be a thrilling vintage, as good - in its own way - as ‘21 and ‘22. A cracking Clare Riesling and what value it is. $27. Drink: 2024-2039"- Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot.
"95 Points. So fine, so silky, so effortless in delivery with aromatics that define what Watervale Riesling is all about. Watervale can be perceived as quiet. It is, in fact, beautifully subtle, detailed in style. Aromas of lime, lemongrass, kaffir lime with just a touch of ginger nicely define the sub-regional - and regional - style. The palate boasts a long line of flavour, super intense in lime, with herbals, fennel and ginger. Texturally, it’s supple. Acidity-wise, it is lemony bright and the mainstay of the wine, but don’t read into this that it is hard-edged. It’s not. Great length makes the flavour last. This is a fully formed young Riesling, ready to fly. $27. Drink: 2024 - 2032"- Jeni Port, winepilot.com.
"95 Points. Always the prettier of the two O'Leary Walker Rieslings I find, this 2024 Watervale hits a home run once again. It's simply a high-quality glass of happiness. Pretty and zesty, this is a most enjoyable release. Pretty white field flowers and bath salts always feature and this 2024 is no different. Lemon juice, lime leaf and lime zest, there is a fine ribbon of quartz minerality tucked in behind. It leaves a vibrant trail highlighted by a sherbety tang. Devine. Beautiful drinking. Drink this while it's fresh on those hot summer days." - Steve Leszczynski, Q Wine Reviews
