Australia — wine

Clare Valley

Clare Valley is Australia's most celebrated Riesling region — a rugged, cool-climate valley in South Australia's northern Mount Lofty Ranges at 400-500m altitude. The region's distinctive dry, lean Riesling style — with extraordinary natural acidity, mineral precision, and the characteristic lime and citrus character — is uniquely Australian: no chaptalisation, no malolactic fermentation, and the wines are released with tight, austere youth then aged to extraordinary complexity over 5-20+ years. The screw cap revolution originated in Clare Valley in 2000, when its leading producers collectively switched to eliminate cork taint and preserve the Riesling's precise mineral freshness.

Year Rating Notes
2022 88 Good season with balanced ripeness and acidity. Fresh, approachable Riesling with bright citrus and mineral freshness.
2020 92 Cool season with excellent natural acidity. Precise, mineral Riesling with classic lime and slate character. Exceptional aging potential.
2018 87 Warm, dry vintage requiring careful canopy management. Generous, accessible Riesling with ripe citrus; drink sooner than typical Clare.
2016 94 Clare Valley's finest recent vintage — perfect season with long, cool summer. Outstanding Riesling with extraordinary acid structure and citrus intensity. Exceptional for aging.
2015 89 Classic Clare season with good winter rainfall and cool summer. Elegant Riesling with excellent acid retention and mineral clarity.