(2024) With a huge total acidity of 8.2g/l this is as sharp as a tack, aromas of icing sugar and lime also have a ripeness to offset the crystalline precision. The palate has a sheer, bone-dry precision between its lemon and lime, taut fruit and shimmering acid length. Invigorating stuff, and rather fabulous. Price and stockist quoted at time of review are for a previous vintage.
(2024) From a vineyard at 480 metres, one of the highest in the Clare Valley,there's petrol and beeswax in the aromatic mix here, as well as cool and pristine limey fruit. I really enjoyed the very dry, shimmering citrus and cool, crisp apple crunch of this, the finish showing a little salts and spice.
(2024) Maybe this wine just hit my particular sweet spot, but I loved it. Initially there are waxy, parrafin notes in abundance, a fine mineral sophistication, and abundant lime fruit. In the mouth it's ravishing stuff, textured and citrussy with a certain fat, but with such vivid, streaking mineral and lime juice core.
(2024) Riverby's Grüner is fast becoming a favourite in their range. As in previous vintages it displays a fragrant peach and ripe pear opulence and juiciness that combines with a sheer, mineral acidity for a wine that is luscious with a definite fruity sweetness and ripeness, but has such a focused, clear line to the finish. A cracking example.
(2024) This is another of Riverby's wines that just seems to get better each vintage, and this one is an absolute gem. From vines planted in 2006, and with just a touch of residual sugar to add weight rather than sweetness, it has a succulent stone fruit nose, a delicate biscuit or pastry warmth and yet real freshness too, floral and citrus adding vivid highlights. The palate is absolutely delicious I must say. Fleshy nectarine sweetness has loads of depth, star anise hints, even a touch of ginger or clove, and the thrusting core of lime acidity is so precise without being too sharp. Beguiling stuff.
(2024) In the funky wine spectrum for sure, this non-vintage wine is 82% Chenin Blanc and 18% Grenache Blanc, 60% from the 2022 vintage, the rest from components going back to 2016. Some portions saw skin-contact, others were deliberatly maderised or aged under flor. Lemony in colour, the nose has butter and lanolin notes, considerable complexity with ripe golden delicious apples and subtle nuttiness too. On the palate a richness to the texture, fat lemony fruit and a delightful balance between fruit ripeness and sheer, sherbet lemon acidity. A lovely, dry, gastronomic finish.
(2024) From the Upper Yarra. 30% new oak, fine and mealy character, lovely rounded stone fruit, also a fine lime skin grip on the finish, balanced acidity. Not in the UK at time of review.
(2024) Exclusively planted with the Mendoza Clone, Riverby's Chardonnay vineyard was first planted in 1999. What a delight this is aromatically, creamy and almondy, with a ripe aand rounded but zippy stone fruit and lime character. Gorgeous texture, something like passion fruit adds extra succulence, but what a lovely texture and satisfyingly rounded mouthfeel. The acid is perfectly ripe and perfectly balanced. Reminds me of Pouilly Fuisse perhaps - but a very, very good one.
(2024) From an excellent vintage, this immediately impresses with its intensity: the nose is a pungent explosion of guava and mango, with elderflower streaking through the aromatic exoticism. In the mouth that tropical fruit juiciness opens the show, but almost instantly a phalanx of lime acidity drives a wedge through the centre, propelling the wine to a lip-smacking, dry finish. There's more than enough fruity extract to coat the palate and withstand the onslaught of the wine's freshness so there is no fruit/acid imbalance. A concentrated, decisive example of Marlborough Sauvignon at its best. Watch the video for more information.
