“Solace” polish hill river riesling 2026
The Wine Front review by Gary Walsh
The quantum of Solace this year is a miserly 375 bottles. Only 700kg came off the vineyard due to frost for the second year running. Vineyard planted in 1994.
This is remarkably pure and fine Riesling. It offers fresh lime and pink grapefruit, quiet fennel and floral perfume, a distinctly stony feel to the texture, with a saline twist on the flinty finish of impeccable length. Superb. 96 points
Qwine Review
This is a wine that is more about the quality of the winemaker than the product itself. I subscribe to the theory that quality is nurtured in the vineyard before the grips of human hand go about their work, but like many things, there are exceptions to the rule.
From a tough year, frost decimated Neil Pike’s vineyard in Polish Hill River for the second consecutive year. As a result, only 15% of normal production landed equating to skinny 375 bottles. The best winemakers stand up in the tough years, and despite all the challenges, this Solace Polish Hill River Riesling is an outrageous treasure.
Pristine and focused, pretty white flowers evoke an attractive perfume. Limes and lime zest add layers of detail with a shimmer of lemon juice. A slatey minerally vibe comes with the territory but the compelling thing is the precision. Such a focused wine that sizzles, come at me summer days. If Riesling is your weapon of choice, it would be a wise decision to add this to your arsenal. Brilliant! 96 points
Winepilot review by Ken Gargett
Neil was able to harvest just 700 kilograms of fruit from this home vineyard, allowing him to produce just 15% of his normal output, a miserable 375 bottles. In other words, if you want this cracking Riesling in your cellar, get on your bike.
Gin clear, this is a wine of coiled power just awaiting to be unleashed. Granted that may take a decade or two for it to reach its peak, but it will provide immense pleasure over that journey. The nose provides aromas of florals, citrus and grapefruit. Elegance, intensity and great length are evident in this ethereal Riesling. On the palate, we see notes of crisp pears, sea breezes and oyster shells. There is a hint of austerity, as one might expect from this sub-region. A fine line of acidity runs the length. Superb now, there is so much more to come over the next twenty to thirty years. 96 points
Halliday Wine Companion review by Mike Bennie
This is a high-quality wine. Fragrant with its lemon-lime scents, green apple, icing sugar and candied peel. The palate is very intense, racy, inwardly concentrated and exceptionally piercing and long.
There’s green apple to taste, and it’s very pink grapefruit-y, coursing with briny minerality. A vanilla note curiously lends complexity, and it’s saline and steely to finish, with a trickle of grapefruit again. Vigorous, energetic, refreshing as all get out. A top-flight expression. 96 points
“Learnings” watervale riesling 2026
The Wine Front review by Gary Walsh
Pikey a.k.a Limey says 1650 bottles produced and says ’26 is comparable in quality to the excellent ’22 and ’24 vintages.
Fresh lime and lime leaf, a lemongrass spiciness, slightly salt-crusted in a sort of margarita way. It’s limey and juicy, a pleasant flinty and stony grip, a gently tangy and sappy feel to the acidity, with a zesty finish of excellent length. Needs a little longer in the bottle to settle, but a very good Riesling. 94+ points
Qwine Review
Stunning as ever, this Limefinger Learnings Watervale Riesling has class written all over it.
Almost water clear in the glass, it immediately draws you closer with its sheer purity and polish. Under-ripe green apple, lemon juice, lemon zest and lime pith provide the flavour profile with plenty of interest, with zippy acidity driving everything along. There’s a stunning citrusy tang that keeps the palate bright and energetic, while fine talc and chalky textures add another dimension. It’s precise without being austere, with the acidity providing plenty of energy and the fruit carrying enough flavour to keep you coming back for another sip.
There’s an unmistakable class here. It’s the type of Riesling that doesn’t need to shout to get your attention. That’s Neil Pike in a nutshell, the Riesling boss doing his thing quietly in the corner. Excellent stuff. 95 points
Winepilot review by Ken Gargett
It is fair to say that a great many winemakers may, on occasion, slightly exaggerate the success of the current vintage but over many years, I’ve come to rely on Neil to provide accurate and honest assessments, so if he says this is a good one, then you know it will be just that.
Mountain stream clear, the wine has a gorgeous Riesling nose with aromas of lemons and grapefruits, river pebbles and gentle spices. It is exquisitely balanced, seamless and with laser-like focus. Wonderfully fragrant, we also see notes of wet slate emerging. A line of juicy acidity runs the length, and what amazing length it is. This really does suggest that 2026 is going to be something very special over the coming years. A brilliant Riesling, if you want to put this in your cellar for the next twenty years, it will reward you more than you can possibly imagine. 97 points
Halliday Wine Companion review by Mike Bennie
This is brazenly fresh in its assertion of tingly, tense, electric acidity. There’s a pulpy, textural feel around that, with the pulp of grapefruit, lime and lemon featuring accordingly. Scents of jasmine and frangipani, lime, ozone. An attractive entry.
There’s charm and drinkability here, an ease to the wine. The finish is a touch short, but the rest is all delight. Lots of character. 93 points