“The Learnings” watervale riesling 2021
Super bright lime and lemon citrus with some nectarine also in the mix. Very pure and taut. The palate has immediate impact and bright, bold lime and lemon fruits, some green peach, too. Succulent with mouth-watering acidity leaving the finish sizzling with flavour.
94 points. 4 stars.
The Real Review by Gabrielle Poy
On the nose, it’s an alluring medley of lime, mandarin, lime blossom and crushed rocks. The cleansing palate is finely composed, showcasing its purity of fruit. It’s very fine, intense and long, but it needs some time to flesh out. One for the ages – and it lives up to its name. 92 points.
Australian Wine Review by Andrew Graham
The companion piece to the Polish Hill above and it’s an affable number, although not quite in the same grandiose league. Defined, limpid fresh fruit and sprightly acidity, the palate threatening to be too firm and sharp edged, yet saved by a little late generosity – indeed it almost looks a bit chubby on the finish, despite the acidity. Ultimately very easy to like this, with a sense of openness and approachability.
Best drinking: nowish for mine. 17.7/20, 92 points. Would I buy it? Worth a few glasses.
Wine Pilot Review by Ken Gargett
No secret that everyone is raving over the quality of wines from the Clare Valley in 2021, especially the Rieslings (and, I should add, about the quality of wines in many regions – it is a cracker vintage). Limefinger is the retirement project for Neil Pike, well known to so many for so many brilliant Rieslings from Pikes (who are still doing sensational things, notwithstanding his absence), before he put down the secateurs (I jest – he had people for that) and picked up his golf clubs. In between rounds, he has made some seriously good Rieslings. This is his second vintage for Limefinger. The fruit for this wine, as it did in 2020, comes from 20 year old vines on the St Clare Gardens “Honey Home” block, just a few minutes drive from the Watervale township.
This wine is crystal clear and with a gorgeous nose, both subtle and brimming with promise. Spices, lemon/lime notes, a character reminiscent of the topping on an Iced VoVo biscuit, lemon grass and more. The palate is soft and lingering with a very good flick of acidity to carry the flavours on the long finish. Seamless and balanced, the palate exhibits more of that lovely lime/lemon character and some florals. Glorious now but even better in ten. 1,250 bottles only. 96 points.
Winefront Review by Gary Walsh
Good fellow is Neil Pike. I bumped into him in the lobby of the Adelaide Hilton earlier in the year. Adelaide is a place I like a lot, and probably my second favourite city in Australia, after Sydney, but it’s kind of a small town!
Fragrant, vanilla, kafir lime and lemongrass sort of thing, along with typical lemon/lime juiciness. It’s quite tight, with a fine chalk dust texture, a bit of spice and a perfumed finish of precision and excellent length. A fair bit of crunch and energy. I really like it. 94 points.
“The Solace” polish hill river riesling 2021
Gently flinty and strapped in tight, this riesling from the Polish Hill River district has a combination of grapefruit, lime and crushed stones on the nose. The palate has such intensity and sheer drive, punches lime, grapefruit and lemon juice flavour so deep and so fresh.
96 points. 5 stars.
The Real Review by Huon Hooke
Pale, water-white colour. Delicately flowery aromas laced with the yeasty notes of a freshly-fermented young riesling, the palate showing the style as a high-acid, tightly tensioned, ageing style of riesling. The acid makes the spine shiver today, but cellar it, or serve it with fish, and it will be superb. 95 points.
Australian Wine Review by Andrew Graham
Limefinger is Neil Pike’s retirement project, unsurprisingly focussed on Clare Valley Riesling, with this Polish Hill River wine sourced from a block planted in 1994. Sadly, last year’s 2020 releases of this wine and sister Watervale release went MIA in the post, and the first bottle of this was smashed (don’t get me started on wine couriers). So it’s a joy that this bottle made it through unscathed and unlost. It’s one moreish Riesling too. Smashable, in the best sense of the world. Green lime juice on nose and palate, the palate is compact, intense and concentrated, the acid persistent but not harsh. Long. Mouthwatering stuff. It’s so perfect in its counterbalance of fruit and acidity. Not hard either. You can’t deny the shape and the pleasure of this superb Clare white – yum.
Best drinking: now and then hold for a few years and then drink as an older wine for decades. 18.7/20, 95 points. Would I buy it? In a flash.
Wine Pilot Review by Ken Gargett
This is the first time this wine has appeared under the Limefinger label and what a wonderful addition. The grapes come from 30 year old vines on the “Home” block, which is planted around Neil’s house.
If it is possible, this is even clearer than the Learnings – gin clear. You could be forgiven for thinking you held in your hand a glass of water. Again, those wonderful lime notes, although they really might be more at the grapefruit end of the spectrum, and a steely background. This is tight, concentrated, offering characters of lemon grass and river stones. Vibrant acidity grabs the attention, but everything is in perfect balance. A wine of great length. This will surely go twenty years or more in a good cellar. Drink the Learnings while waiting for this to fully develop, but be in no hurry with either. 2,000 bottles. 97 points.
Winefront Review by Gary Walsh
Auric Limefinger, one of the more affable villains, I’d say. What is The Quantum of Solace anyway. 42?
Very tight, a lot of crunch and distinct chalk ‘mineral’ feel to it. It has a bit of citrus zest in the mix, juice of fresh lime, quite a lot of grip, and a firm, almost dusty finish of outstanding length. Polished Polish, with a heap of spice and limey zest. 95 points.