Vickery Watervale Riesling 2023

Watervale sits in the cooler southern section of Clare Valley, producing Rieslings with distinctive mineral complexity that sets them apart from the warmer northern sub-regions. The slate and limestone soils here impart that characteristic minerality you'll taste in this wine, creating more structured and age-worthy expressions. While northern Clare Rieslings tend toward more tropical fruit characters, Watervale consistently delivers the lime-citrus precision and steely backbone that Australian Riesling is renowned for globally.

Serve this wine well-chilled at 8-10°C to showcase its vibrant acidity and citrus precision. The crisp, light-bodied nature means it's perfect as an aperitif, but don't overlook its food-pairing potential with spicy Asian cuisine, fresh oysters, or grilled fish. The wine's natural acidity and mineral backbone make it particularly brilliant with dishes that have a touch of heat, as the lime characters help cool the palate while the minerality complements seafood beautifully.

These consistently high scores from respected critics indicate this is an exceptional example of Australian Riesling that punches well above typical expectations. Ratings in the mid-90s suggest the wine displays perfect varietal character, excellent balance, and the kind of complexity that separates great wines from merely good ones. The fact that multiple reviewers scored it so highly indicates John Vickery has crafted something special that showcases both his winemaking expertise and the unique terroir of Watervale.

While delicious now with its fresh lime vitality and floral perfume, quality Clare Valley Rieslings like this develop beautifully over 5-10 years. As it ages, you'll see the primary citrus characters evolve into more complex honey and toast notes, while that distinctive Watervale minerality becomes even more pronounced. The wine's excellent acidity structure provides the backbone needed for graceful ageing, though many wine lovers enjoy tracking a bottle's evolution by trying one every couple of years.

John Vickery is considered one of Australia's most respected Riesling specialists, with decades of experience crafting wines that perfectly express their terroir. His technique of blending fruit from seven different Watervale blocks allows him to create complexity while maintaining the pure, focused character that defines great Riesling. Vickery's philosophy centres on minimal intervention winemaking that lets the natural lime-citrus character and mineral complexity of Watervale shine through, resulting in wines that are both immediately appealing and built for the long term.