Pikes Wines Traditionale Riesling Clare Valley 2021

“Deep and meaningful.”

Not too often you get to write that down as a first impression of a wine, let alone the first impression of a very young, Clare Valley riesling.

But out it came in my notes, together with “so balanced and accomplished,” and “comes fully formed with depth of fruit flavour.”

These kind of tasting notes indicated something special. But the wine was soooo very young. I consulted the internet for details on the 2021 vintage in Clare Valley. Words like “classic” and “perfect ripening conditions” kept popping up.

It was all making sense.

A fab Clare vintage produces fab riesling, and Pikes has produced a belter.

Citrus descriptors got a big workout with this wine from lemon drop and zest to lime cordial and grapefruit pith.

They gathered on the bouquet, all lively and fresh. They worked with the wine’s acidity to provide real tension – that vibrancy we love to see in riesling – and juiciness, mouth-wateringly, so.

But what I really loved about this wine was the fact that while you could see a long life ahead – as indeed classic Clare rieslings tend to enjoy – it was fully formed now and raring to go.

You don’t normally see that in a riesling quite so young.

It’s a star turn, all right.