The 2022 Rieslingfreak Riesling No. 2 is a standout expression from the Clare Valley, Australia, produced by John Hughes, a winemaker renowned for his focus on Riesling since establishing Rieslingfreak in 2009. Sourced from the Polish Hill River vineyard, which spans 7 hectares and was originally owned by Penfolds before Rieslingfreak purchased it in 2010. The 2022 vintage benefited from ideal growing conditions, with cool nights preserving acidity and slow ripening enhancing flavor development. Made in a dry style, fermentation occurred in stainless steel to retain varietal purity. Hughes’s precise, terroir-driven approach continues to set this Riesling apart as a benchmark for the region and is considered the best Riesling No.2 that has ever been made here, showing green apple, fresh grapefruit, lilac, and jasmine, while the palate bursts with bright citrus notes dancing lithely over a grounded flint-like minerality. The palate is soft and spectacularly elegant, with bright natural acidity imparting exceptional length and a clean, crisp finish. While it is not a normal Riesling offer for us, it provides an excellent value for the category and is one fo the best examples outside of Europe.
Wine Advocate (Erin Larken) 96 points! "Now this is very good. We know that 2022 in the Clare Valley was a great year for Riesling. Time will tell if it is better than the great 2021 vintage, but my money is on it. Here, in this 2022 No. 2 from Polish Hill River, we witness all the coiled power and citrus fruit musculature of the season on full display, with citrus blossom, apple purée, star anise/fennel seed, cinnamon stick, lavender, Nashi pear and even kiwi fruit. At this point, it's still very closed but is a sensational representation of the year and the area. This is nowhere near fully extended. Patience, padawan."
2022 Rieslingfreak Riesling No. 2
2022 Rieslingfreak Riesling No. 2
The 2022 Rieslingfreak Riesling No. 2 is a standout expression from the Clare Valley, Australia, produced by John Hughes, a winemaker renowned for his focus on Riesling since establishing Rieslingfreak in 2009. Sourced from the Polish Hill River vineyard, which spans 7 hectares and was originally owned by Penfolds before Rieslingfreak purchased it in 2010. The 2022 vintage benefited from ideal growing conditions, with cool nights preserving acidity and slow ripening enhancing flavor development. Made in a dry style, fermentation occurred in stainless steel to retain varietal purity. Hughes’s precise, terroir-driven approach continues to set this Riesling apart as a benchmark for the region and is considered the best Riesling No.2 that has ever been made here, showing green apple, fresh grapefruit, lilac, and jasmine, while the palate bursts with bright citrus notes dancing lithely over a grounded flint-like minerality. The palate is soft and spectacularly elegant, with bright natural acidity imparting exceptional length and a clean, crisp finish. While it is not a normal Riesling offer for us, it provides an excellent value for the category and is one fo the best examples outside of Europe.
Wine Advocate (Erin Larken) 96 points! "Now this is very good. We know that 2022 in the Clare Valley was a great year for Riesling. Time will tell if it is better than the great 2021 vintage, but my money is on it. Here, in this 2022 No. 2 from Polish Hill River, we witness all the coiled power and citrus fruit musculature of the season on full display, with citrus blossom, apple purée, star anise/fennel seed, cinnamon stick, lavender, Nashi pear and even kiwi fruit. At this point, it's still very closed but is a sensational representation of the year and the area. This is nowhere near fully extended. Patience, padawan."
