2025 O'Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling
2025 O'Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling

2025 O'Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling

96 pts
O'Leary Walker |Clare Valley |Riesling
Organically crafted Clare Valley Riesling that captures the unique minerality of Polish Hill River, offering exceptional quality and cellar potential at the asking price.
4.5
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
2 Reviews
Price:
$27.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

For a quarter of a century, O’Leary Walker has been setting the benchmark for Clare Valley Riesling, and this 2025 Polish Hill River release shows exactly why.

Sourced from organically grown vineyards first planted in the 1970s, this wine captures the essence of the Polish Hill subregion - slate-rich soils, cool nights, and fruit that speaks more of precision than power. The 2025 vintage was one of the driest in recent memory, resulting in smaller berries and remarkable concentration.

The wine is taut and pure, full of lime zest, green apple, and crushed rock. There’s that hallmark Polish Hill tension - bright acidity balanced by a fine mineral edge - giving it a long, clean finish and years of life ahead.

This is classic Clare Valley Riesling, built for both early pleasure and serious ageing. A milestone vintage from one of the region’s most reliable and respected names.

Ray Jordan

Ray Jordan

Wine Pilot 96 Points

This exceptional wine from an exceptional vintage shows a clear distinction between it and the Watervale version from the same year. This one sort of moves into more floral bath salts characters while retaining that perfume floral note that is typical of the region. There’s a wet, pebbly, crunchy feel here with the citrus notes evident throughout. There’s even a little of that musk lolly character that we might have had as kids, but is subtle and understated. This is complex and superbly presented. One of the finest yet under this label.

Steve Leszczynski

Steve Leszczynski

Q Wine Reviews 95 Points

Taut, concentrated and expressive, this O'Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling continues to fly the flag as an excellent expression of the variety. The trademark slatey and minerally drive that these Polish Hill River Rieslings take centre stage, but there is a lifted prettiness I'm savouring. Sourced from an organically farmed vineyard, green apples and lime juice are right at home as citrus flowers chime and bath salts add fragrance. A lively grapefruit thread runs the length of the palate underpinned by a fine talc-like texture. Dangerously silky, it seizes up on close and that tension demonstrates its age-ability. The kind of tonic for a long, rough week, one or two glasses at wine o'clock will make the pressures of the world feel lighter.

Customer Reviews

4.5
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
Based on 2 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 1 Total 4 star reviews: 1 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
2 reviews
  • SA
    Stella A.
    Verified Buyer
    1 month ago
    Reviewing
    2024 O'Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    All in balance

    A well executed balance of high acid with minimal balancing sweetness. Fruit forward but shows some restraint with minerality. Yum!

    Was this helpful?
  • MR
    Michael R.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    3 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Reviewing
    2021 O'Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Super riesling

    Brilliant textbook Polish Hill dry riesling with lime, florals and steel.

    Was this helpful?

Despite growing these vines organically since their planting in the 1970s, 2010 marked the first year of NASAA Organic Certification for these vineyards. Martin and Joan Smith and Molloy's vineyards are virtually next to each other in Polish Hill River and consistently produce top quality fruit which highlights the excellence of this sub-region of the Clare Valley. Grey loam acid soils over sandstone and slate make up the profile with much of the top soil littered with rock, proving just how tough the vines need to be to sustain growth and produce quality fruit. It is the slate of Polish Hill River, as opposed to the limestone of Watervale, that gives rise to the point of difference between these styles.

Vinification
The 2025 vintage, shaped by a particularly dry growing season with just half the average rainfall, has produced a wine of remarkable intensity and powerful early fruit expression. It has a prolonged finish accented with fresh flavours. 2025 also marks 25 years of Riesling produced by O’Leary Walker — a milestone that celebrates both heritage and finesse.

Price Bracket $30 or Less
Type White
Body Light Bodied
Variety Riesling
Country Australia
Region Clare Valley
Australian State SA
Feature High Score
Reviewed By Wine Pilot
QWine Reviews
The Wine Front
Halliday Wine Companion
The Real Review
Alcohol 12%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
Closure Screw Cap

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