2023 Rieslingfreak No. 5 Clare Valley Off Dry Riesling

Highly Rated
Perfectly balanced off-dry Riesling from the passionate and highly-skilled John Hughes.
4.5
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
12 Reviews

Price:
Sale price$24.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship

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Description

There are few off-dry styles of Riesling in Australia that are executed as well as this offering from Riesling fanatic, John Hughes.

The balance in this release is excellent. The ripeness of fruit and the laser-like acidity all lends itself perfectly to make this more 'Germanic' expression of the Clare Valley. It's a wine you could happily drink straight away, or hold onto it for later (if you can resist).

This wine style matches perfectly with spicy dishes and has the balance to drink brilliantly on its own.

"Beautifully balanced, a magical wine. The most gorgeous wine on the day."
- 96 pts, Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

"A beautiful line of flavour follows, reserved sweetness kept in check by laser like acidity driving through to a long, stony and drying finish. Immaculate balance will see this age very well. 2026-2035"
- 96 pts, Andrew Caillard MW (The Vintage Journal)

Rieslingfreak No.5, like No.3 is made from the family vineyard, but with the grapes harvested from a vineyard with lighter soils therefore providing a lighter style of wine.

The grapes are harvested earlier in the season, to provide a wine that is slightly less in alcohol. Being ‘off dry’ the sugar level can vary each vintage, pending on the season, normally between 11-15g/L. The sugar is balanced nicely with the acid, providing a fruit driven style with a hint of sweetness. The wine drinks well on release, or will reward with cellaring.

Region: Clare Valley, SA
Blend: Riesling (100%)
ABV:
Closure: 750ml
Bottle Size:
Production:

96 Points - "Beautiful floral, honeysuckle, lime, talc scented, highly aromatic bouquet: there's the sense that the residual sugar is lifting the fruit, which is often the way in off-dry and semi-sweet style rieslings. Exquisite aromas, a note of stone-fruits, the taste off-dry but you would never describe it as sweet. It dries off towards the back-palate with a lot of acidity. Beautifully balanced, a magical wine. The most gorgeous wine on the day. (From the Hughes family's White Hutt vineyard. 13 grams/litre of sweetness. On the riesling scale: half-way through the medium-dry section)" - Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

96 points - "This medium-dry Clare Valley Riesling is fresh and tightly wound, offering up a well weighted core of sherbet, passionfruit and pear aromas with a gentle lining of spice. A beautiful line of flavour follows, reserved sweetness kept in check by laser like acidity driving through to a long, stony and drying finish. Immaculate balance will see this age very well. 2026-2035" - Andrew Caillard MW (The Vintage Journal)

4.5
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
Based on 12 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 8 Total 4 star reviews: 2 Total 3 star reviews: 2 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
92%would recommend this product
12 reviews
  • JB
    Joseph B.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    9 seconds ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Benchmark Riesling

    Benchmark off dry Riesling - lovely balance and everything you’d expect. Great value.

    TasteRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Interest LevelRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Value for MoneyRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
  • TR
    Terrie R.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    3 weeks ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    A very tasty drop

    Really well balanced zesty wine. A bargain at the price!

    TasteRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Interest LevelRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Value for MoneyRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
  • MF
    Mark F.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    3 months ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Ripper Rizza

    Excellent in the Germanic style, a benchmark for Australian Rizza of this type.

    TasteRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Interest LevelRated 4.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Value for MoneyRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
  • SZ
    stan z.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    4 months ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    fresh zippy riesling

    very easy drinking riesling from one of the masters of the variety - John Hughes.

    TasteRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Interest LevelRated 4.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Value for MoneyRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
  • SD
    Sharon D.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    1 year ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    2022 No. 5 Off Dry Riesling

    Crisp and dry Clare Valley riesling with a delightful waft of residual sweetness. Yummy

    TasteRated 4.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Interest LevelRated 4.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
    Value for MoneyRated 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5
Reviews LoadedReviews Added

Rieslingfreak

Rieslingfreak founder & winemaker John Hughes is quite simply making the most comprehensive, high-quality and remarkably priced range of Rieslings in the country.

Growing up in the family Riesling vineyard in Clare Valley, which John still farms today, Riesling simply runs through this man's blood. John, with the help of his talented winemaking wife Belinda, make only Riesling - not a bottle of any other variety - and they've honed their craft to a level unmatched in Australia.

They are two of the nicest people you're likely to meet, so wholeheartedly committed to their vision and craft, and we are proud to have worked so closely with them for so many years. These wines rank amongst the very best value to be found anywhere in Australia, and we give them our fullest recommendation. Enjoy!

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