2025 Pikes Traditionale Riesling
2025 Pikes Traditionale Riesling

2025 Pikes Traditionale Riesling

15% OFF AT CHECKOUT 95 pts
Pikes |Clare Valley |Riesling
A reliable Clare Valley classic from a low-yield vintage - the Traditionale always delivers.
3.5
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
2 Reviews
Price:
$25.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Pikes Traditionale is one of those wines that just delivers, year in, year out. This is the 41st release, and it comes off the back of a seriously tough season in the Clare Valley. It was the second driest year on record, with a frost hitting the Polish Hill River vineyard right after budburst. But the vines adapted, producing small yields of incredibly concentrated fruit.

The winemaking keeps things simple to let that concentration shine. They use only free-run juice and neutral yeast, giving it three months on lees to settle. It preserves that distinct regional character without masking anything.

In the glass, it is classic Clare. You get hit with lemon blossom, lime zest and crisp Granny Smith apple. The palate is punchy and approachable, leaning into that lime cordial flavour with a tight line of acidity that runs right through the finish. At just 11% alcohol, it is light on its feet but has the structure to live for a decade if you want to tuck some away. Perfect with fresh oysters.

95 points
"A super delicious youngster already showing plenty of Clare Riesling personality
with its florals, citrus and fragrant bath powder aromas."
- Andrew Caillard MW (Vintage Journal)

94 points
"It never fails to disappoint, and it’s another excellent example of what Pikes can do."
- Ray Jordan (Wine Pilot)

Gary Walsh

Gary Walsh

The Wine Front 92 Points

Well, my word, this an intense wine in 2025, like so many of them are. Lime, green apple, lavender, tarragon, a spicy fresh ginger top note. It’s all lime juice, lemon in water, and tangy green apple, some powdery grip to texture, quite some bite to acidity, though there is perfume and charm to go with that, and it finishes very firm with good length, closing all gin and tonic with a hard squeeze of lime. This is kind of austere and tight for a Traditionale, though it does have the makings of something very good. I’d give it a little more time in bottle, or try it with calamari and chips if you’re going in now.

Ray Jordan

Ray Jordan

Wine Pilot 94 Points

The test of a good vineyard is often how well it performs in challenging years, and 2025 was certainly a challenging one. Yet the wine has emerged as something of a triumph. It’s a Clare Valley wine and produced with 100% free-run juice, then kept on lees for about three months, introducing a level of texture to the keenly edged palate. The perfumed mix of lemons and lime is evident immediately, and then the palate displays that subtle tension through the acid and a fine minerality that extends through to the finish. It never fails to disappoint, and it’s another excellent example of what Pikes can do.

Andrew Caillard MW

Andrew Caillard MW

Vintage Journal 95 Points

A super delicious youngster already showing plenty of Clare Riesling personality with its florals, citrus and fragrant bath powder aromas. There is a smooth, textural element to this wine that makes it easy to get to know and enjoy early. It opens up on a flavour bed of lime curd and lemonbutter, candied rind, apple and spice. Dry and pithy to close. Drink now–2035

Customer Reviews

3.5
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
Based on 2 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 0 Total 4 star reviews: 1 Total 3 star reviews: 1 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
2 reviews
  • CP
    Chris P.
    Verified Buyer
    16 seconds ago
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Lovely

    .

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  • PC
    Paul C.
    Verified Buyer
    1 month ago
    Rated 3 out of 5 stars
    Lemon and Lime

    The 2025 vintage has a much higher acid profile than usually expected from Pikes. The usual passionfruit note was much more subdued in this vintage. It is very much all lemon and lime although some texture comes through as the wine warms up in the glass. The remaining bottles will be left alone for five years or more to see if the expected development comes through.

    Was this helpful?

The Clare Valley endured one of its most challenging vintages, with the second driest year on record. A wet July was followed by a dry, warm spring and summer. On 17 September, frost hit our Polish Hill vineyard just after budburst.

Fortunately, the early timing of the frost allowed our vines to respond with healthy shoot growth and a smaller canopy. Lower yields and careful irrigation led to full ripeness, with fruit of incredible concentration and purity.

100% free run juice, neutral yeast, rested on fermentation lees for 3 months prior to bottling.

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
Vintage Journal
The Wine Front
Critic Score 95
Alcohol 11%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
Closure Screw Cap

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