2026 Rieslingfreak No. 2 Polish Hill River Riesling

96 pts
Stunningly pure, chiseled and complex single-site Riesling from the master of the variety.

Price:
Sale price$35.00
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In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Sourced from a single block in the celebrated Polish Hill River subregion, this is elite Australian Riesling at its most precise and pure.

The 2026 No. 2 comes from the Jaeschke family vineyard, planted on grey-brown loam over sandy limestone and shale - a site John and Belinda Hughes consider among their very best. The vines narrowly escaped the worst of a November frost that devastated much of the Polish Hill River subregion, before nature threw everything else at them: drought, then a deluge of flooding rain right on the cusp of harvest. What's made it into the bottle is a wine of real richness and elegance in equal measure.

This is the most intellectual wine in the range - chalky and finely chiseled, with real bones to it. There's a perfumed lift of pear and gardenia on the nose that opens out into something more citrusy and tropical the longer it sits in the glass, and the palate carries that fine, talc-like minerality Polish Hill is known for, weaving bright orchard fruit through a warmer, spiced richness underneath. It's still a touch coiled and nervy on release, but there's real purity there, carried by an electric thread of acidity that just keeps going.

This is the most tightly wound wine in the range on release - built for the cellar, but already showing the purity that makes Polish Hill River Riesling so collectable. Give it 6-12 months in bottle and watch it unfurl.

96 points
"The clarity is something else, and then that river pebble and slate element slips in. A stunning riesling in any language."
- Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

96 points - "A stone-cold Polish Hill River classic. Stony, too! All that minerality bound up in juicy lime, pristine green apple juice and a touch of lemon-jasmine tea in the mix. Fragrant, fresh feeling and almost ticklish in its briny acidity, this is so vibrant and pure feeling, with immense immediate drinkability and mass appeal. The clarity is something else, and then that river pebble and slate element slips in. A stunning riesling in any language." - Mike Bennie (Halliday Wine Companion)

Customer Reviews

2026 Clare Valley
Sourced from the Polish Hill River vineyard, situated 5km South-East of the Clare township. The vineyard is owned by Rob and Lyn Jaeschke, who purchased the vineyard from Penfolds in 2010. The vineyard is planted on grey-brown loam-based soils, over sandy limestone and shale rock. The Riesling vines are almost 20 years old, planted on 50-year-old root stock.

After narrowly escaping the devastating effects of a November frost that wiped out much of the Polish Hill River subregion, the Jaeschke family nurtured a spectacular crop of Riesling to ripeness through both drought and then flooding rains. The unique blend of vintage conditions has delivered a wine of both richness and elegance. The bouquet is highly perfumed with aromas of Nashi pear, gardenia, and yuzu, with hints of passionfruit, papaya and fresh lime juice. The palate is crisp yet richly textured, with a fine, talc-like minerality imparting a pleasing slipperiness to the texture in the mouth. Bright flavours of Honeycrisp apple and guava run a fine line between sweet and tart, balanced by decadent, spice-laden richness evocative of marzipan, saffron kulfi, and almond biscotti. The elegant and complex palate is punctuated with an electric line of acidity, imparting exceptional length and a clean, crisp finish.

Price Bracket $31 to $40
Type White
Body Light Bodied
Variety Riesling
Variety Style ["Dry Riesling"]
Country Australia
Region Clare Valley
Australian State SA
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
Critic Score 96
Alcohol 11%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2026
Closure Screw Cap

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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