Clare Valley Releases

2024 Watervale Riesling

Beautiful Old Vine Watervale Riesling - aromatic with texture and spice

Vineyard: Gullyview & Parish Vineyards, Watervale
Blocks: Grace, Parish & Gullyview
Planted: 1973, 1923 & 1973
Soil type: Red clay on limestone (Gullyview & Grace), Red clay on slate and iron stone (Parish)
Picking date: February 16, 18 & 20, 2024

Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Crush and destem
Time on skins: 6 hours in press
Pressing: Free run only, minimal press rotations
Cooling / settling: Cold settled off dirt and heavy solids for 3 days
Fermentation: Natural ferment in Steel & ceramic amphora for 2 months
Aging vessel: Stainless steel on fine lees for 10 months
Bottled: 29/01/2025
Filtration: No
Fining: No
Alc: 12.0
pH: 2.99
TA: 7.4
SO2: 26 free / 62 total
Production: 1500 dozen

The Wine Front Review by Mike Bennie

Posted on 27 February 2025

'This comes from old Gullyview and Grace blocks that were planted over 50 years ago, with an addition of Old Vine Parish Blocks which are over 100 years old. Maturation takes place in steel and ceramic vessels. On lees for a year. Righteous.

Superlatives galore. Texture. Weight. Freshness. Savoury complexity. Floral lift. Citrusy vibrancy. Hazy, green apple interest. It’s all on. A succulent tonic of invigorating energy and delicious, palate-cleansing moreish qualities. Fragrant, frisky, bright, some weight and depth. It has it all. And delivers a layered, and nuanced riesling of wonderful drinkability and charm. So in.'

95 Points

Halliday Wine Companion review by Katrina Butler

Published 11 March 2025

'From select parcels in the Gullyview and Parish vineyards. This is a clear, light-reflected, honest and pure example of Clare riesling. Lemon, lime, a little pomelo pith, some bath salt and quartz with talc-like minerals and texture. These things are hallmarks of the variety grown in this region, yet this, too, has a steadfastness, a verve through the finish, indicating a wine of longevity. I look forward to toasting the occasion a decade or two from now.'

95 Points

 

2024 Old Vine Slate Riesling

South facing, rich soils with slate - floral, stone fruits and delicate texture.

Planted in 1923, this is one of the oldest Riesling vineyards in the Clare Valley. It was established by the neighbouring Parish family and has remained in their hands to this day. The rows run east – west, allowing the canopy to protect the fruit from the intense sun.

The site is unique for Watervale, as the vines grow over slate and heavy red clay. While most of Watervale is limestone, there are some bands of slate running through the area. Additionally, there’s a bit of iron stone in this block.

Given the heavier clay soils over the slate and the very old vines, the flavours of this wine are very powerful to begin with. Over the 5 years we have been working with this vineyard, we’ve realised it requires minimal intervention in the winery beyond a clean and controlled ferment. The wine ferments and matures in stainless steel. Malolactic fermentation (MLF) isn't typically favourable for this wine, so we generally keep it cool. In total the wine spends 15 months in steel, predominantly on fine lees. It was bottled at the end of April 2025 without fining or filtration and with 70pppm total sulphur dioxide added.

Winemaking Notes

Vineyard: Parish Vineyard, Watervale
Farming: Organic
Planted: 1923
Soil type: Red clay on Slate
Picking date: 18 February, 2024
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Crush and destem
Time on skins: 6 hours in press
Pressing: Free run only, minimal press rotations
Cooling / settling: Cold settled off dirt and heavy solids for 3 days
Fermentation: Natural ferment in stainless steel for 2 months
Aging vessel: Stainless steel on fine lees for 12 months
Filtration / Fining: No
Bottled: 01/05/2025
Alc / pH / TA / SO2: 12.4% / 3.03 / 7.2 / 35F, 70T
Production: 105 dozen

The Wine Front Review by Mike Bennie

Posted on 16 June 2025

'From the 1923 planted Parish Family Vineyard in Clare Valley. Slate one could imagine is the dominant soil profile.

Such power and grace. Vibrancy and succulence. Sweet lime-lemon gets bested by ginger, cumquat, tangerine, with touches of green almond, Real Lemonade and touches of tonic and mineral water. Pure, so powerful and yet fresh, stacks of character and a bit of a ‘wow wine’ without getting out of bed. Super drinking.'

93 Points

Halliday Wine Companion review by Katrina Butler

Posted on 14 July 2025

'The fruit for this wine is sourced from 101-year-old vines from the Parish vineyard, and it doesn't feel like we are in the Clare anymore. It smells and drinks of elsewhere, more the ilk of Rheingau. Indeed, the red clay on slate soils imparts a level of richness beyond a single dimension. This is deliciously citrusy, citing a mandarin note amongst the usual lemon-lime. It's fleshy, tensile and feels tireless in its drive. Powdered quartz, green apple, some phenolic grip and a crunchy spiced pear note that thrums a pulse behind the endless stream of powerful fruit. A true marvel.'

96 Points

Review by James Suckling

Published on 4 April 2025

'Intensely slate-driven, showing mineral-edged notes of nectarines, wet river stones and high-toned citrus. The palate is so energetic and powerful with a striking acidity and nicely integrated phenolics. High-tension and linear, this has a drive and concentration that will evolve nicely in bottle. Aged on fine lees in stainless steel for 15 months. From vines planted in 1923, bringing depth and purity. Drink or hold.'

96 Points

 

2024 Old Vine Limestone Riesling

South facing, boney soils - ginger spice, mineral and soft textures

This wine is made from the original Riesling vineyard on the Koerner Family property, planted in 1973. It’s a unique 4 hectare block running north – south over a hill, with 89 short rows running east – west. This orientation helps protect the fruit from the intense Clare Valley sun.

The section of vineyard we use for this wine is on the Southern slope, where a thin layer of clay loam overlays limestone. We particularly enjoy working with this section, as it best expresses the mineral characters we love in a Riesling.

To help build weight and texture, this wine is fermented and aged in 1000L ceramic amphora for around 9 months, it goes through full malolactic fermentation (MLF) and is then racked to steel where it sits on fine lees for a further 6 months. The wine was bottled at the end of April 2025 without fining or filtration and with 70pppm total sulphur dioxide added.

Winemaking Notes

Vineyard:  Koerner Vineyard, Watervale. Block - Gullyview
Planted: 1973
Soil type: Terra Rossa, red clay on limestone
Picking date: 16 February, 2024
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Crush and destem
Time on skins: 6 hrs in press
Pressing: Free run only, minimal press rotations
Cooling / Settling: Cold settled off dirt and heavy solids for 3 days
Fermentation: Natural ferment in ceramic amphora 2 months
Aging vessel: Ceramic amphora for 6 months, then stainless steel on fine lees for 6 months
Filtration and Fining: no
Bottled: 01/05/2025
Alc / pH / TA / SO2: 12.6% / 3.04 /  6.6 / 35F, 65T
Production: 105 dozen

The Wine Front Review by Mike Bennie

Posted on 17 June 2025

'Really keen to see the wines of Koerner following soil profile naming – so many great producers of Europe delineate this way, and it doesn’t make wine better or worse, but it’s more attuned than some ‘Paddock’ or ‘River’ or ‘Parcel’ or similar.

Delightful wine. Frisky and fine boned, lacy and minerally. Very talc-meets-tonic-water feel with hazy green apple juice in tow. Limey too, some Real Lemonade, a cavalcade of interesting characters though you could say it leans just a touch into sweetness (which some will love). Refreshment factor with that fruitier climate is a little missing, but generally, pretty darn delicious and concentrated and good.'

93 Points

Halliday Wine Companion review by Katrina Butler

Posted on 14 July 2025

'From the original riesling plantings of the Koerner family Gullyview vineyard, which has been steadily added to since '73. Damon Koerner has always loved this spot atop a hill ("it's got a good aura about it," he says), with its bony soils, clay and limestone. The mineral tension of the site is captured well here; it's got a fragmented slate quality, some chalk and sherbet to its texture, granular yet integrated. A delicate savoury thread of brine and white pepper weaves through the preserved lemon and grapefruit profile. Some oyster shell and orchard florals, too. It's not lost on me that the lessons of farming and generational persistence are the cornerstones for a wine of this calibre.'

96 Points

Review by James Suckling

Published on 4 April 2025

'Stony aromas of lemon peel, orange blossoms, sliced pears, candied lime zest, lavender and intense chalk. The palate is tightly wound with a real mineral intensity and tactile mouthfeel. Seven months in clay amphora with full malolactic conversion. From vines planted in 1973. The new release of the former “Gullyview” from limestone soil. Excellent. Drink or hold.'

95 Points

 

2023 Pigato Vermentino

 

Vermentino on skins - peach, iced tea and super refreshing

Vineyard: Gullyview Vineyard, Watervale
Planted: 2007
Soil type: Terra Rossa, red clay on limestone
Picking date: March 18 & 21, 2023
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Destem retaining ~ 50% whole berries. No whole bunch
Fermentation: Natural ferment in open top steel fermenters, hand plunged twice daily
Time on skins: 20 days
Pressing: Free run and pressings combined
Settling: Settled off gross lees for 7 days
Aging vessel: Steel for 7 months
Filtration: No
Fining: No
Alc: 10.1%
pH: 3.25
TA: 6.9
SO2: 25 free / 50 total
Production: 1380 dozen

Winefront Review by Mike Bennie

Posted on 25 October 2023

'Skin fermented vermentino (20 days maceration) from Clare Valley. This one feels more in the refreshing zone than orange wine zone, but does the latter justice in its texture and pleasing bitterness. The tenth release for this significant wine!

Like tonic water meets mandarin juice joined to alpine herbs meshed with green apple. What a delight! Lighter expression in a way, despite the ripple of powdery tannin through it all, a frisky, long, pink grapefruit finish laced with juniper berries a delight. Thirst-quenching stuff here. Tightly wound, lots going on, fine boned. Yummm.'

93 Points

2023 Tiver Rose

Classic dry Rose- savoury, crunchy and fine boned

Varietal: Sangiovese & Sciacarello
Vineyard: Vivian Vineyard, Leasingham, Clare Valley
Farming: Organic since 2016
Soil type: Red and Black clay on limestone
Picking date: March 25, April 3 & 14, 2023
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Time on skins: approx 3 hours
Processing: Crush and destemmed
Pressing: Take free run and pressings
Cooling / settling: Cold settled off dirt and heavy solids for 24 hours
Ferment vessel: Slavonian oak Foudre for 4 weeks
Aging vessel: Stainless steel on fine lees for 6 months
Filtration: Sterile
Fining: No
Alc: 11.6%
pH: 3.2
TA: 6.5
SO2: 25F, 50T
Production: 880 dozen

Winefront Review by Mike Bennie

Posted on 25 October 2023

'A blend of sangiovese and sciacarello from a single (Vivian) vineyard. We’re in rose land here.

Fragrant with sour cherries, cranberry, rose hip tea, sweet spice, a lick of minty herbs too. Palate and bouquet send similar vibes. The palate is juicy, has a little tug of fine, lacy tannin to finish, a hint of red berry sweetness but there’s spice and savouriness laid on deftly with blood orange tang to close. Finely done, well done rose of immense drinkability.'

93 Points

The Wine Advocate by Erin Larkin

Posted on 17 May 2024

'The 2023 Tiver Rose of Vivian is a blend of Sangiovese and Sciacarello (a Corsican grape variety) grown in the Clare Valley. In the glass, the wine is not quite pink but more of a dirty flamingo blush, onion skin, etc., and in the mouth, it is a rich, complex, layered drinking experience, with lusty nuances of goji berry, redcurrants, sumac, pink peppercorn, a hint of pastrami and sweet roasted beets. This is a completely different speed of Rosé to the norm, one that lends itself emphatically toward gastronomic pairings. 11.6% alcohol, sealed under Diam.'

92 points

2023 La Korse Red Wine

 

Corsican inspired - red fruits, light and easy drinking

Vineyard: Vivian, Gullyview & Parish Vineyards, Watervale
Varieties: 53% Sangiovese, 19% Sciacarello, 13% Grenache, 12 Vermentino & 3% Carignan
Planted: 1998, 1935, 1998, 1998 & 1985 respectively
Farming: Organic
Soil type: Terra Rossa, red clay on limestone
Picking date:  March 20, 21, & April 3 & 14, 2023
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Destem retaining ~ 50% whole berries, no whole bunch
Fermentation: Natural ferment in open top steel fermenters, hand plunged twice daily
Time on skins: 2 weeks
Pressing: free run and pressings combined
Settling: Settled off gross lees for 7 days
Aging vessel: Stainless steel for 11 months
Bottling Date: 15/01/2024
Filtration: No
Fining: No
Alc: 12.3
pH: 3.31
TA: 6.6
SO2: 30 free / 60 total
Production: 1300 dozen

Winefront Review by Mike Bennie

Posted on 16 April 2024

'A blend of mostly sangiovese with bits of sciacarello, grenache, vermentino (12%) and carignan. A good time. Sum of the parts. Great to see ‘Red Wine’ of a place pitching at interest and drinkability; it shifts the dial for a region bit by bit, this kind of thing.

It’s a meaty yet fresh and chewy red. Bright red berries, some game meat notes, touch of more earthy, salumi in there, sage leaf, a dusting of cardamom and cinnamon. Fresh feeling to taste, a tightening of tannins around a slosh of good times with a good, medium weight finish and a lick of pumice-like minerality and pucker to finish. Something different, and yet a familiarity in its drinkability and easy charm.'

92 Points

Review by James Suckling

Published October 2024

'Fresh and vibrant aromas of raspberries, wild strawberries and dark cherries. The palate is medium-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity. Delicious blend of Italian varieties that can be taken seriously but is highly drinkable. Drink or hold.'

92 Points

 

2022 The Clare Red Wine

Bordeaux varieties made in a Loire style - vibrant, bright fruits & soft tannins

Varieties: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 11% Grenache, 7% Malbec, 4% Carignan & 2% Sciacarello
Vineyard: Vivian, Parish & Gullyview Vineyards
Planted: 1998 & 1930
Soil type: Red clay on limestone, 'Terra Rossa'
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Destemm retaining ~ 50% whole berries, no whole bunch
Fermentation: Natural ferment in open top steel fermenters, hand plunged twice daily
Time on skins: 2 weeks
Pressing: Free run and pressings combined
Settling: Settled off gross lees for 7 days
Aging vessel: Slavonian foudre for 12 months, then racked to steel for 4 months
Filtration: No
Fining: No
Alc: 13.1%
pH: 3.59
TA: 5.7
SO2: 30F, 60T
Production: 1550 dozen

Winefront Review by Mike Bennie

Posted on 28 September 2023

'A tilt at a new breed of Clare red wine, though it has been since 2016, or at least since then for me. It’s cabernet, cabernet franc, grenache, malbec, carignan, sciacarello from three vineyards, drawn together to produce a regional red. Clever. Clare cabernet and shiraz solo can fall short at times, alone.

Medium weight, cinched with fine, powdery, graphite-laced tannins, perfume of dark berries, maraschino cherry, sweet herbs, cranberry, peanut brittle with similar flavours. Lots on. Lots to like. Quite ripe in its profile of fruit, primary fruited, lots of flavour, bright too. It’s easy drinking, a great load of pleasure with each glass. There’s a sense of hedonism here.'

92 Points

Halliday Wine Companion review by Campbell Mattinson

Published 14 June 2024

'Blend of 50/11/11/7/4/2% cabernet sauvignon/cabernet franc/grenache/malbec/carignan/sciacarello. There's a confidence to this wine. It's firm, it's wild with intricate flavour, it's light but it's buoyant. Potpourri, peanuts, boysenberry, earth and sweet plum flavours all make appearances, though the truth is that every time you put this anywhere near your nose/mouth, you detect something different. In a word: it's joyous.'

94 Points

Review by James Suckling

Published October 2024

'The nose gives aromas of wild blackberries, mulberry bush, bay leaves, violets and mocha. The palate is medium-bodied with finely integrated tannins and a creamy texture. A blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon, 11% cabernet franc, 11% grenache, 7% malbec, 4% carignan and 2% sciacarello. Delicious. Drink or hold.'

93 Points

 

2023 Rolle Vermentino

Pure Vermentino – stone fruits, salinity & drive
Vineyard: Gullyview Vineyard, Watervale
Planted: 2007
Soil type: Terra Rossa, red clay on limestone
Picking date: March 18, 2023
Picking method: Hand harvested and sorted in vineyard
Processing: Crush and destemmed
Skin contact: 12 hours in press
Pressing: Free run only, minimal press rotations
Cooling / settling: Settled off dirt and heavy solids for 24 hours
Fermentation: Natural ferment in Slavonian oak Demi-muid
Aging vessel: Slavonian oak Demi-muid for 8 months on full solids, then stainless steel on fine lees for 3 months
Filtration: no
Fining: no
Bottled: March 16, 2024
Alc: 10.5
pH: 3.15
TA: 7.1
SO2: 30F / 60T
Production: 380 dozen

Winefront Review by Mike Bennie

Posted on 10 April 2024

'Wild fermented in large format Slavonian oak, left on lees. It sees 12 hours skin contact.

For such a light weight (10.5% alcohol) and modest skin contact, there’s so much flavour and texture here. It still sits at medium weight, or just shy, but ripples with the authority of powdery tannins, chewiness to texture, a burr of saline minerality and talc-like pucker to finish. Lemon myrtle, lemon-ginger tea, hazy green apple juice and faint white pepper, celery and tonic water characters combine here. A thirst-slaking nature, a true palate resetter, but wonderfully evocative of the variety, in its own unique and complex style. Bravo.'

94 Points

Review by James Suckling

Published October 2024

'Very minerally and on the edge of reduction, with aromas of flint, lemon confit and orange blossoms. The palate is textural and precise, with notes of grapefruit rind, lime curd and oyster shells. Excellent balance and polish. Drink or hold.'

93 Points

 

2023 Mammolo Sciacarello