Rieslingfreak No. 44 Eden Valley Riesling 2023

Rieslingfreak’s 2023 No. 44 Eden Valley Riesling (93 Points – Wine Advocate; 93 Points – James Suckling) is every bit as compelling as Rieslingfreak’s highly touted 2022 No. 44 Eden Valley Riesling. Crystalline and brilliant in the glass and graced with an abundance of aroma, the 2023 No. 44 had us even before our first sip. A beguiling bouquet of white flowers, orange and lemon blossoms, sweet basil, and a hint of exotic spice seduces the nose. In the mouth, Rieslingfreak’s 2023 No. 44 Eden Valley Riesling expresses its elegance, flavor and vitality in a flow of citrus, orchard fruits, and bergamot, before exiting with verve and vigor. Although this dry young Riesling will almost certainly gain further complexity with another year in the bottle, it is an absolute pleasure to drink now so don’t waste a minute. We suggest serving the dashing Rieslingfreak No. 44 Riesling cool (40º-45º F) and then allowing it a few minutes in the glass to expand. You are in for a treat. Anticipated maturity: 2024-2028. Enjoy!

Although pairing a fine wine with food nearly always enhances the experience and benefits both partners, the 2023 Rieslingfreak No. 44 Eden Valley Riesling needs nothing else and truly shines on its own. Nonetheless, why settle for one guilty pleasure when you can have more? Green-tipped New Zealand mussels served in a saffron broth, sushi, sashimi, and just about anything that once crawled in or out of the sea warrant two thumbs up with Rieslingfreak’s titillating 2023 No. 44 Riesling. Most traditional Japanese dishes that are steamed also offer first-rate partners as do tempura offerings and curried Thai stir fries. Sautéed lightly breaded pork tenderloin in a creamy mustard sauce over German spaetzli noodles makes another splendid companion. And, we are also fond of consuming Rieslingfreak’s No. 44 Riesling as an aperitif as well as after dinner in the company of apples, grapes, pears, and a platter of soft ripe cheeses. Enjoy!

Aptly named Rieslingfreak, the team of John and Belinda Hughes and Mark Thomas is freakishly passionate about Riesling – and that’s to the world’s benefit, as one would be hard pressed to find a team more passionate about Riesling and the wines they make than this trio. John Hughes grew up on a family vineyard in South Australia’s Clare Valley at the very heart of Australia’s premier area for Riesling. He also spent time in Germany making Riesling, while wife Belinda has been making award winning Riesling and other white wines for two decades. Mark Thomas, the anchor on this team, also hails from South Australia and became hooked on Riesling at an early age while working in some of the finest restaurants and hotels in Australia, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Together these three Riesling Freaks fashion some of the planet’s greatest Rieslings in small lots from two of the planet’s premier areas for world-class Riesling: South Australia’s Clare and Eden Valleys. Rieslingfreak Rieslings consistently dazzle critics and consumers alike and garner top scores from international critics and wine publications.

Riesling is unquestionably one of the world’s finest and most versatile grape varieties, yet Riesling remains the most misunderstood grape varietal in the United States, due at least in part to the predominance of inexpensive, low alcohol sweet Rieslings from Germany that pervaded the American market in the 1960s and 1970s. However, not all Rieslings are created equal, nor are all Rieslings sweet. In fact, Riesling can be made bone dry, unctuously sweet, and everywhere in between. Rieslingfreak does is all, just better than everyone else. Taste and see for yourself!