2026 Rieslingfreak No. 5 Clare Valley Off Dry Riesling

95 pts
John Hughes' dangerously drinkable off-dry Riesling. You'll need a big glass for this one...

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Description

Few off-dry styles in Australia are executed with the precision and drinkability of this Rieslingfreak gem.

The 2026 No. 5 comes from a different block of the family's White Hutt vineyard to the No. 3 - grey clay over limestone, planted east-west, which retains the natural acidity needed to carry real sweetness with poise. It's John and Belinda's entry point into off dry Riesling, and this vintage's mix of elegance, generous flavour and electric acidity has made for a beautifully balanced wine.

This is where the range gets a little playful. The nose is all ripe orchard fruit and honeysuckle, and the palate delivers exactly what it promises - a lovely fruit-tingle sweetness up front, like biting into a ripe nectarine, kept honest by a tingly, sherbet-like acidity running right through the middle. It finishes surprisingly dry and chalky for something with this much sweetness up front - that push and pull between sugar and acid is really the whole point of this wine, and this vintage has nailed the balance.

A superb match for spicy dishes, or simply delicious on its own.

95 points
"There's no sense of 'sweet wine' here, just a textural nod and a fruitiness. The balance is sublime. Wildly drinkable and charming."
- Mike Bennie (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points - "Some of the most charming, easy-to-drink, fun wines on the planet are made from riesling in an off-dry style. This doesn't miss a trick. It has the skittish crimps and crackles of saline minerality found in bone-dry riesling, but offers up the gentle lip-plumping of honeyed citrus and red apple fruitiness that are the tells of residual sugar. There's no sense of 'sweet wine' here, just a textural nod and a fruitiness. The balance is sublime. Wildly drinkable and charming." - Mike Bennie (Halliday Wine Companion)

Customer Reviews

2026 Clare Valley
Harvested from the family vineyard, situated in White Hutt, just north of the Clare township. The block selected for No.5 is grey clay over limestone, with the vines planted in an east/west direction. The nature of this block results in fruit of unique elegance and flavour with high natural acid retention; perfectly suited to producing exquisitely balanced Off Dry Riesling.

The 2026 vintage is marked by distinctive elegance, generous flavours and an abundance of electric acidity, providing a perfect vintage to produce beautifully balanced Off Dry Riesling. The bouquet is richly imbued with the aromas of sweet red apple, white peach and mandarin, complemented by fragrant floral scents of orange blossom and honeysuckle. These seductive aromas transition seamlessly onto the lusciously flavoured palate, where the sweet flavours of apple crisp, apricot delight and fresh nectarine are balanced by a delightful zing of sherbet-like acidity. The natural sweetness of the style adds an unctuous richness to the mid-palate, while a core of driving acidity imparts linearity and length with a crisp, clean finish.

Price Bracket $30 or Less
Type White
Body Light Bodied
Variety Riesling
Variety Style ["Off-Dry Riesling"]
Country Australia
Region Clare Valley
Australian State SA
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
Critic Score 95
Alcohol 10.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2026
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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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