Kirrihill Wines, Riesling, 2024
Kirrihill Wines, Riesling, 2024
- White Still
- 75.0cl
- 10.0%
- Riesling
Kirrihill Wines has long been one of Clare Valley's quietly reliable names, and this 2024 Riesling is a fine example of why South Australian Riesling punches so hard on the world stage. Bone dry, nervy, and refreshing, it delivers the classic regional blueprint: laser-sharp acidity, citrus zest, and that distinctive stony mineral quality that makes Clare and Eden Valley Riesling so compulsively drinkable in its youth.
We find it in great shape right now, all crunchy lime and white blossom, though it has the structural backbone to develop nicely over the next few years. Drink it well chilled with anything from fresh oysters to Thai green curry, and don't overthink it.
- ❖ ABV: 10.0%
Grapes
Riesling
Vintage report
We'll be honest: 2024 in South Australia threw winemakers some proper curveballs. The growing season started promisingly enough, but then delivered a cocktail of challenges that kept everyone on their toes. What emerged from this meteorological drama was a vintage that demanded every ounce of skill in the vineyard and cellar, separating the wheat from the chaff in spectacular fashion.
The wines that made it through show remarkable concentration and vivacity—think tightly wound Rieslings from Eden Valley that practically hum with energy, and Barossa Shiraz with more savoury backbone than we've seen in years. This isn't a vintage for the impatient; these wines are built for the long haul and will reward cellaring until 2030 and beyond. We're particularly taken with the McLaren Vale expressions, which somehow managed to capture both power and restraint in the same glass.
Tasting Notes
AppearancePale straw with a faint green tinge, clear and bright in the glass.
NoseFresh and immediately inviting, with lime zest, green apple, and a delicate white blossom lift. There is a clean, almost chalky mineral thread running underneath that keeps things focused rather than showy.
PalateDry and precisely defined, with citrus fruit at the core and a crackling acidity that makes your mouth water. The body is light to medium, with enough fruit concentration to give it presence without ever feeling heavy or blowsy.
FinishClean, long, and stony, with a lingering lime-pith dryness that keeps you reaching for another sip.
Overall impressionA textbook Clare Riesling at a very fair price, precise and refreshing with a few good years ahead of it.
Food Pairings
In the Clare Valley and across South Australia more broadly, Riesling is the instinctive match for the local seafood: freshly shucked oysters from Coffin Bay, grilled King George whiting, or a simple prawn salad with a squeeze of lemon. The locals also know it works brilliantly with the Thai and Vietnamese food that has become embedded in Australian everyday cooking, where the wine's acidity cuts through coconut and chilli with real finesse. A platter of antipasto with pickled vegetables and aged hard cheese is another natural companion, leaning into the wine's citrus sharpness.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve well chilled at around 8 to 10 degrees Celsius — Riesling at room temperature loses its defining snap. No need to decant; simply pour straight from the fridge and let it warm fractionally in the glass. A tall, narrow white wine glass or a classic Riesling flute works well, preserving the aromatics and keeping the wine cool for longer.
Clare Valley sits at altitude relative to much of South Australia, with the diurnal temperature range doing much of the winemaker's work for free: warm days build flavour and ripeness, cool nights lock in acidity and freshness. The soils across the valley vary from red-brown earths over limestone to terra rossa and clay loams, all of which tend to produce wines with structure and a firm mineral backbone. It is this combination of warmth and nocturnal cool that gives Clare Riesling its trademark tension between ripeness and racy acidity.
Clare Valley is one of Australia's most celebrated cool-climate regions, sitting roughly 130 kilometres north of Adelaide in South Australia. It is most famous above all else for Riesling, producing a style that is dry, tightly wound, and built to age — quite different from the softer, more fruit-driven expressions you find further south in the Adelaide Hills. The region has no formal appellation rules in the European sense, but Clare Riesling has an identity strong enough that it hardly needs them.
We'll be honest: 2024 in South Australia threw winemakers some proper curveballs. The growing season started promisingly enough, but then delivered a cocktail of challenges that kept everyone on their toes. What emerged from this meteorological drama was a vintage that demanded every ounce of skill in the vineyard and cellar, separating the wheat from the chaff in spectacular fashion.
The wines that made it through show remarkable concentration and vivacity—think tightly wound Rieslings from Eden Valley that practically hum with energy, and Barossa Shiraz with more savoury backbone than we've seen in years. This isn't a vintage for the impatient; these wines are built for the long haul and will reward cellaring until 2030 and beyond. We're particularly taken with the McLaren Vale expressions, which somehow managed to capture both power and restraint in the same glass.
FAQs
What does this Riesling taste like?
Dry and refreshing, with lime zest, green apple, and a clean stony minerality. The acidity is the star of the show, giving the wine a mouth-watering, food-friendly freshness.
Is this wine dry or sweet?
Fully dry. Clare Valley Riesling is almost always made in a dry style, quite different from many German Rieslings. There is no residual sweetness here, just bright citrus fruit and racy acidity.
When should I drink it?
It is drinking well right now and will continue to do so until around 2031. If you are patient enough to hold a few bottles until 2028 or 2029, you will be rewarded with some lovely toasty, developed complexity alongside the fruit.
What food does it pair with?
Oysters, grilled white fish, Thai green curry, Vietnamese summer rolls, or anything with a bit of citrus and spice. The acidity makes it one of the most versatile food wines going.
How should I serve it?
Straight from the fridge at around 8 to 10 degrees Celsius. A tall, narrow glass helps preserve the aromatics. No need to decant.
Is it worth cellaring?
Yes, with modest ambitions. This is not a grand cru Riesling built for decades, but it has enough structure to reward three to five years in the cellar. Aged Clare Riesling develops a distinctive toasty, petrol-like character that is genuinely compelling.
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