Description
Owner and winemaker of Rieslingfreak, John Hughes’ love of Riesling began with a childhood spent in the family vineyard in Penwortham, in the heart of the Clare Valley. In 1998, the family purchased another vineyard in White Hutt, just north of the Clare township, and John’s future was sealed.
John’s father, Richard, was responsible for his early interest in wine, sharing many exceptional aged Clare Valley Rieslings with him, developing John’s liking and appreciation for the grape. As he grew up, John’s interest led him to discover Rieslings from throughout the world, fuelling his passion for the variety even more.
The first vintage of Rieslingfreak was in 2009, with a Clare Valley Riesling. Since then, the label has slowly expanded to include vineyards in Eden Valley and Polish Hill. Together with several traditional dry wines, he also makes Riesling in off dry, Kabinett, fortified and sparkling styles.
“I earned the nickname ‘Riesling Freak’ during my university days, as it was always my beverage of choice. My love of this grape and its enormous diversity of styles has never waned, so when I started my own label, there was really only one thing I could call it.” Hughes said
Rieslingfreak follows the German tradition of classifying each Riesling according to its technical specifications, specifically sugar and alcohol content. Mission is to champion the riesling grape with the philosophy of representing the hallmarks a single region and one iconic style of this particular grape in every bottle, each Rieslingfreak wine is allocated an individual number. This number represents not only the region in which the fruit was grown, but also the style, technical specifications and quality level to which the wine is made. Traditional approach harvesting grapes in the cool of night, fermentation of pristine free run juice only (so no skin contact/grippy phenolics) with cultured yeast and reliable temperature control, bottling early usually mid May to capture as much purity of fruit and freshness as possible to express the site.
2017 was a mammoth year for John Hughes aka Rieslingfreak when he walked away with 5 Trophies from Sydney Royal wine show for his Riesling freak no 3 Clare Riesling 2017. Followed on in June with winning Young Guns of Wine Competition judged by the 11 finalist winemakers who voted him as their winemaker’s choice award. Well deserved recognition for his fabulous wines since his first release in 2009. He holds the bar high as far as quality standards go. In 2011 when he competed in Masterchef and made it through to the final 50 he caused a scene particularly on social media when he refused to present his dishes to judges saying he wasn’t satisfied he’d done well enough. This winemaker applies the same unyielding pursuit of quality to his approach to his stunning Rieslingfreak wines.
About this wine: The No.3 is harvested from the family vineyard, situated in White Hutt, Clare Valley. The grapes are grown on heavy red clay soils that are rich in nutrients and have significant water holding capacity. These classic Terra Rossa soils are responsible for the rich flavours and generous palate weight that has become the hallmark of the No.3. The family vineyard in White Hutt always produces wines of great generosity, and the 2024 No.3 is a uniquely balanced wine that exhibits both richness and delicacy. The nose is richly seductive with aromas of Bergamot, Pink Lady Apples, and fresh nectarines. The palate is intensely flavoured with zesty citrus-driven flavours of tangerine and grapefruit, complemented by tangy apple and highlighted with sweet tropical notes of guava and lychee. The lusciously flavoured palate is classically generous yet deceptively delicate, deftly bound by a tight line of crisp natural acidity that carries through to a long, zesty finish.
97 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion “Such a beautiful, concentrated yet composed wine from John’s mum and dad’s vineyard at White Hutt, 5.8km north of the Clare township. So perfumed and essential, with crunchy lime, green apple and grapefruit alongside high tones of wildflowers, Christmas lily, jasmine, talc, mineral salts, peach skin and stone. Concentrated yet super-tight on the palate with a tubular core of focused lime and citrus fruits, a beautifully fine structure and a tangy, energetic line with velocity to burn. A superb, pristine wine.”
RRP $31 **Our Special Price $23.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine**
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