Steve Leszczynski

Q Wine Reviews 96 Points

What a pretty thing this is! I always look forward to the O'Leary Walker Riesling releases and these 2025 newbies are superb. Run at this Watervale - it's irresistible. Elegant and pretty yet full of detail and poise, the fragrance seizes your attention instantly. Bath salts, white field flowers, citrus blossom and green apple lift effortlessly from the glass flowing onto the palate with an attractive mouth perfume. Limes, lemons, green apple cordial and a fine line of riverstone minerality course their way through with a detailed chalky and talc finish. The value for money here is exceptional, not to mention the mouth feel and that perfume that is etched into my memory. What a ripper from an exceptionally dry year.

Ken Gargett

Wine Pilot 95 Points

Yet another superb Watervale Riesling from a pair of specialists (they are pretty good at other wines, as well). Treatment is largely traditional. The colour is a very pale lemon. This is beautifully fragrant with notes of limes, spices, lemons, white jasmine, grapefruit and a touch of river stones. A veritable citrus smorgasbord. Fresh and aromatic with a line of fine acidity, there is exceptional length in this immaculately balanced effort plus focus and finesse. Expect it to provide superb drinking for at least the next fifteen years.

Mike Bennie

Halliday Wine Companion 95 Points

Pretty classic stuff here, albeit you'd say this release is quite concentrated and potent in its fruit characteristics. Lemon-lime, sweet and tart at the same time, green apple, distinct blackcurrant notes, a little lemon oil and dashes of mandarin marmalade. Lots of talc here, too – powdery, lavender-like, and with a little bit of grip in texture. Nice one. Quietly complex. This should be singing with another year and onwards – and do wait if you can.

Jeni Port

Wine Pilot 96 Points

If Polish Hill River represents the power of Clare Valley Riesling, Watervale represents the finesse, the purity. Nowhere is this better exhibited than in the 2025 vintage. While it was a challenging vintage, by all accounts, Riesling shone. It shows. Bright, lime green hues. Classic Watervale scents, arrestingly aromatic and delicate in jasmine, wildflowers, bath salts, fresh lime and citrus skin and apple. An intensity of lime flavour lies at the wine’s core, a Watervale trait, in sync with florals. It’s a vibrant, alive palate with an easy textural flow in lime, green apple, pear skin, touch of rosemary, Thai basil and wet slate minerality. Finely textured with powdery fine acidity. Purity plus. This beauty will still be looking good in 10-15 years.