This is perhaps even better than the highly acclaimed 2012 Jim Barry Watervale Riesling. The flavours are pretty similar but the focus and extension seems to be ratcheted up another notch.
Lemons over lime with some orange zest, jasmine and hints of green papaya. The generosity is evident on the nose but the palate adds steely resolve, composure and drive. A terrific dry, slatey finish with a whisper of spice. A serious Riesling offered for a pittance. Tastes great now but worth stashing some as well. 94
Region: Clare Valley
Alcohol: 12.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $19
Tasted: July 2013
Not much not to like in the good vintages with this one, Jeremy.
I am still scoffing the 2002 with a great deal of satisfaction, bought like the 2013 version, for a pittance(in the 2002′s case for way less as it was ‘ridded’ ex cellar door)
Wish I’d cellared more Clare Riesling from 2002. Oh well, 2012 enabled me to stock up and it seems 2013 might produce some belters too. Looking forward to tasting the Florita (and Lodge Hill) 13s after polishing off half a bottle of this with flathead and chips.
What , so far, is your feeling about the relative merits of the 12 to 13 in both the Clare and Eden Valley, Jeremy. Probably far too early to throw that at you, though.
Yep, I’ll hold off making any assessment on that until I taste quite a few more 2013s.
Think this might be better than the 2012 too. I’d not point it so highly, not yet. The 2013 Lodge Hill is a more complete wine for me, and I also like it more than the 2012 version. We might have two good SA Riesling vintages in a row here, and if you’re anything like me, you might prefer the 2013 Clares over the 2012s (some a bit too fruit sweet for me in 2012).
MichaelC
I wasn’t that taken with the 2012 version of the Lodge Hill. I preferred the EV 2012s, certainly as cellaring propositions.
Buggar, potentially looks like another sizeable hole in my pocket with 2013 riesling purchases coming up!
I could objectively admire the quality of the 2012 Lodge Hill but I wasn’t a huge fan. Watervale and Florita 2012s more my cup of tea. Think this 2013 Jim Barry Watervale is a better wine than the 2012 Lodge Hill – and I realise many people will disagree with me on that.
I’m happy with 94. This rang my bells. Who knows, the 2013 Lodge Hill Riesling might get 95 or 96 when I get around to tasting it
The 2013 Lodge Hill Riesling just jagged a Trophy at the Brisbane Wine Show last week for best current vintage white wine. So the judges up there certainly got excited about it!
As a general comment, I and the rest of my winemaking colleagues at Jim Barry’s reckon our 2013′s are a stronger bunch of wines than the 2012′s were at this stage of their life as a comparison.
Cheers
Luke Steele
Add me to the admirers of this wine, and equally so of the 2013 Lodge Hill. Lodge Hill is looking very “busy” right now, but still a seamless powerful ride that will hone further. I suspect that is also what is behind a few not being chuffed with the 2012 version. Time will be generous to these wines.
The standard Watervale 2013 is pristine, lightly musked and talc laced with brilliant acidity and drive harnessing what will become flourishing flavour in time. All without being too structured now, or likely to become too broad later. Stunning.