2022 ‘Skilly Ridge’ Riesling

A rather special single vineyard Riesling from the Clare Valley. Planted in 1994, by the Ingram family, this is also where Tim Adams and his family call home, since they purchased it in 2014. The vineyard, a mix of clay, loam and shale, enjoys an easterly aspect. Only free run juice is used, after the grapes are crushed, chilled and clarified, before ferment for two weeks at 12-14°C by way of cultured yeasts. This 2020 is the fourth release under this label and is part of Tim’s Single Vineyard series, which replaced his Reserve Range.

The wine is a limpid pale yellow with flecks of green. Beautifully aromatic and fresh, with florals, spices, fresh garden herbs and citrus, especially grapefruit. There is good crunchy acidity, real persistence and the intensity is maintained along the full length of the palate. Finely balanced throughout, it has a good decade ahead of it, perhaps longer for well cellared examples.

White florals, blossom, lavender, a little bruised apple in the frame. Beautiful aromatics, freshness juxtaposed against a little oxidative edge.

Minerally, a subtle tang of lime juice across the length of the wine, textural width adding breadth to length and filling the wine out. It’s what marks it out from a raft of “acid and lime” merchants that we all know (and for the most part love).

A generosity of flavour to it, subtle and beguiling. A standout Rizza!

This pure, floral riesling is full of life. The varietal intensity is matched by uplifting acidity on the lingering finish.

The Skilly Ridge vineyard in the Clare Valley was planted back in 1994 and so impressed Tim Adams that he eventually purchased it and made the estate his home. The fruit from the vineyard has also impressed sufficiently to be bottled as an individual release.
The team used only free-run juice, which was fermented for two weeks at 12 to 14°C with neutral yeast, then a gentle fining and a single filtration. And three cheers for a riesling which sits at just 10.5% alcohol. The colour is a lovely limpid pale yellow/gold. Classic Clare Valley nose. Limes and an array of other citrus notes. Gentle florals. There is an underlying wet stone character and very good acidity here. It really has good length and balance. There is a hint of chalk and talc towards the finish. This is a wine which should age extremely well and improve, going on to even greater heights. A beautiful wine.

An elegant riesling with noteworthy length. There are the barest whispers of development but otherwise this is a citrussy riesling with bath salt and stone aspects as key parts of its personality. Complex it is. Dry too. With a lovely, slatey feel. In short, it’s very good.

‘Best of the best by variety’
Dazzling quartz-green, this has a purity and restraint that is in the fountainhead of all great rieslings. It is as much to do with what it doesn’t have (overt acidity, extract, etc) as its many high points. Free-run juice from high quality grapes has its own reward. Part of this wine has been held back for release in 8-10 years time (at a very different price no doubt).

Tim’s magical touch with this sensational variety, too. Open, layered, violet and lime blossom scented and enchanting, this magnificent white is the perfect counterpoint to the heady, luxurious reisling.

So passionate is he at trumpeting Riesling’s credentials, this top-notch Clare Valley vigneron never misses an opportunity to bolster his vineyard holdings. Five years ago, he purchased the prime Skilly Ridge vineyard, being so impressed with its potential. This beaut wine shows his judgment was again absolutely spot on.