O’Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling 2021
- 97
- $30
- Drink by: 2024 - 2040
Share
It may sound like the proverbial broken record but this is yet another truly stunning Clare Valley Riesling from the 2021 vintage. The choice between this and the Watervale – well, it shouldn’t be a choice at all; just get both – it really will come down to personal preference. For me, the pristine purity in this wine gives it the edge, but others will opt for the more generous Watervale. There is no wrong answer.
Again, green but there is more sunlight filtering through here. Wet stone, citrus, steel and bath talc. There is a fraction of a whiff of florals and confectionary, but very much in the background. A minerally undertow. There is excellent length here, piercing acidity, knife-edge balance and a future of at least twenty years.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
