O’Leary Walker Watervale Riesling 2023
- 94
- $25
- Drink by: 2023-2043
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Seems 2023 makes it is a hat trick of great vintages in the Clare for Riesling. This bottle of joy is from a classic Watervale vineyard with a westerly aspect, the fruit destemmed, crushed and gently pressed. The free run juice is settled and then fermented over the best part of two weeks. A very pale green/gold with a powerful and concentrated nose offering florals, minerals, wet slate, chalk and limes. Powerful but refined at all stages. With excellent length and a softly pleasing texture, this has a fine line of acidity while the palate offers a lovely lingering lemon pie note right at the finish. Drink over the next eight to twelve years, but it will certainly go for at least two decades, well cellared. Two things are certain. This will continue to improve and it is criminally underpriced (although long may it remain so for all us Riesling fans).
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.
