96 Points - Ray Jordan
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 2025 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.
"96 Points. This exceptional wine from an exceptional vintage shows a clear distinction between it and the Watervale version from the same year. This one sort of moves into more floral bath salts characters while retaining that perfume floral note that is typical of the region. There’s a wet, pebbly, crunchy feel here with the citrus notes evident throughout. There’s even a little of that musk lolly character that we might have had as kids, but is subtle and understated. This is complex and superbly presented. One of the finest yet under this label. $35. Drink: 2025 - 2045"- Ray Jordan, winepilot.com
"95 Points. Concentrated, elegant, with power to burn. Polish Hill River brings its A Game to a year that brought its challenges and brushes them aside in a display of quiet assurance. Fruit is fresh and nicely elevated in Polish Hill River spice. Stewed spiced apple, ruby grapefruit, pear skin, papaya, white pepper and a stony mineral edginess on the palate holds the promise of budding complexity. It’s early days but the beginnings are there, together with textural appeal that is still developing. Acidity is super charged and bright finishing with a green apple tartness to close. It’s a big lasting finish and impression for a wine that so excites from first to last. $35. Drink: 2025 - 2042"- Jeni Port, Winepilot.com.
