PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2009
"Brilliant effort. Fresh, pristine, elegant with knife-edge balance. Florals, lemons and limes."
Ken Gargett, Courier Mail
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2009
Three judges each representing Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have selected the best wines from their own country for the Tri Nations Wine Challenge which will be held in Sydney in August 2010.
Australia's judge Huon Hooke has selected Pikes 2009 “Traditionale” Riesling and Pike & Joyce 2009 Sauvignon Blanc to represent Australia in this annual event.
The winners will be featured in a series of tastings and dinners held in Sydney, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
More information: http://www.trinationswine. com/
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2009
Neil Pike has a season ticket to the 100 Best and it’s nice to see just how effortlessly his wine strolls into the line up each year. With a heavenly texture and more rhubarb and red apple notes than the lime cordial brigade, Pikes Riesling is a terrific way of getting unbelievers into the Aussie Riesling thing without shocking their palates too much. Sensuality is the watch word here and this elixir has never been so attractive than in 2009.
Matthew Jukes 100 Best Australian Wines 2010
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2009
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2009
Chosen to pour in Corporate Boxes and functions at ANZ Stadium - Sydney.
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2009
Light and distinctive for its effusive pear, lime and star fruit
aromas and flavors, fitting together neatly on a classic dry frame.
Drink now through 2019
Wine Spectator - Insider - 17th March 10
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2009
“Another cracker from this cracking vintage in Clare. Very typical with power and intensity yet with a fine, almost delicate supporting acid. Lovely texture with tonnes of flavour that lasts forever.”
Ray Jordan -
West Australian, Mar '10
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2009
Pikes- 2009 Traditionale Riesling is light straw-colored with an enticing nose of mineral, lemon-lime, citrus, and floral notes. Ripe, exceptionally concentrated, and vibrant on the palate, it has the acid structure to evolve for 4-5 years and should drink well through 2019 - 91/100
Wine Advocate - December 2009
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2009
“The Pike brothers' rieslings are among the Clare Valley's finest, making them Australian classics. There are two versions: this basic wine and a flagship, The Merle. Intense spice, floral, lime and slaty aromas introduce this version, leading to a mouthful that combines focused, sustained, tangy fruit supported by a thrilling lick of acidity.”
Ralph Kyte-Powell, Age, Feb '10
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2009
“Traditionale” is the softer of the two, being less acidic but still vibrantly fresh with pure, citrusy varietal flavours. It’s slightly rounder and fuller flavoured than “The Merle.”
Chris Shanahan
Sunday Canberra Times, Feb ‘10
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2009
91 - 93 Points
“Made from 60% estate fruit, the rest selected from around the region. This has a complete and complex set of aromas, ranging from floral sweet perfume to citrus, peach and green mango. The palate has texture and flavour in spades with an acid line that holds it all tidy through the back. Lingering lime and white nectarine finish.”
Nick Stock, Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2010, Dec-09
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2009
Some of the world’s most interesting and ageworthy
Rieslings come from Australia, and many of
those bottlings really require five years to show their
stuff. I would guess that this wine will need that
much time to really come into its own, as it is
extremely austere now when first opened. However,
once permitted to warm a bit and breathe for an hour,
it already shows wonderful lemon/lime fruit and an
engaging minerality that makes it very
attractive. Slow ageing of fine Rieslings from the
Clare will bring delightful secondary aromas into
play, so you’d be well advised to buy a few bottles of
this for the long term, or to decant the wine if your
now.”
Michael Franz - Winereviewonline.com - October 2009
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
Pale Straw with green lues; floral lime fruit bouquet; linear and fine, with a racy, yet still juicy, finish to the palate. 91 points
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2010
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
Neil Pike seemingly has a season ticket to our 100 Best and this will not change as long as he continues to enchant us with wines like this one. Fleshy, ripe, cool and incredibly detailed, 2008 Pikes Riesling is a joyous wine and one that deserves to cast its spell on a far wider fan base.
Matthew Jukes 100 Best Australian Wines 2009 - May 09 www.matthewjukes.com
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
One of the top wines in the blind tastings for this article. Hugely varietal with definitive Clare Valley characters. Intense floral and citrus characters are supported by a fine backbone of acidity. Superb.
Qantas in flight magazine - Toni Patterson - Dec 2008
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
Pikes makes two Rieslings; this is a softer, drink-young style which will also keep, but is deliciously tangy and bath-powder fragrant and not too dry or austere. The taste is juicy and fresh with a trace of sweetness balancing refreshing acidity.
92 points 4 stars.
Huon Hooke Gourmet Traveller WINE, February/March 09
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
Some of Austrlia's best reislings hail from the Clare Valley, with Pikes producing a wonderfully fresh and intense example. It's cruncy core of lime and green apple is augmented by notes of mineral, with toasty and honeyed nuances just starting to develop from some time in bottle..
New Zealand Herald - Wine - Jo Burzynska - Viva - 4th March 2009
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
Best Light White Wine - 2008 Wine Awards Competition
Packed with minerally citrus flavour yet dry as a bone, it features stunningly fresh acidity that gives it an incredibly long lasting, pure, clean finish. Clare Rieslings are built for the long haul (at least 10 years), but do not hesitate to enjoy this bottle now. It is the ideal partner for the Asia-Pacific cisines we live on in Vancouver.
Vancouver Magazine - 2008
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
one of the charmers of the 2008 vintage, Pikes is perfumed with lemon florals with a touch of honey and spice, and a lovely palate showing a balance of fruit and acidity. Just such a lovely drink now, it will develop probably in the shorter term of perhaps five years. I'd be drinking mine young.
Eat and Drink - Chris Hayes - January 2009
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
Classic aromas of lime and lemon with touches of faint spice and bath salts. The palate is very intense with fine controlled acid and terrific length. A racy, lively wine for current drinking or for another seven years cellaring with ease.
Ray Jordan - West Australian, 4 December 08
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
This incisive wine has a lemony chalky dryness that is fleshed out by some pulpy richness.
Max Allen - Australian Gourmet Traveller, December 08
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
The Pike brothers consistently make excellent Clare Valley rieslings from their plots in the Polish Hill River area. This classically styled example has slate, lime and white peach aromas of attractive varietal personality. The palate is ripe and complete with intense flavour and a long, aromatic finish.
4.5 stars
Ralph Kyte Powell - Epicure – Wine Guide, The AGE, 26 November 08
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
Neil Pike is one of the Clare Valley’s unsung heroes, making incredible Rieslings year in and year out….The cool 2008 vintage spawned a swath of classic Clare Rieslings and the Pikes Traditionale is no exception. It has fine floral aromas of orange blossom, Burnbrae apple and freshly squeezed lime, and intense flavours in a similar vein, with a seam of minerality and a finely focussed finale.
Peter Bourne - Gourmet Traveller WINE, December 08
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
When it comes to great Rieslings, you can't go wrong with this long established family winery. Crispy, zingy intense and lively, perfect with seafood or Thai dishes, this is one of Australia's benchmark Rieslings.
Winsor Dobbin - Wine With Winsor - November 21st
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
Clare Valley Maestro Neil Pike has outdone himself this year, packing more flavour and zip into this vintage than normal, which is really saying something. This is seriously delicious Riesling.
Grant Dodd - The Australian Golf Digest - December 2008 Edition
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
Clare Valley 2008 rieslings offer Australia's best value for money right now, so I make no apology for recommending another stunner. Crisp, zingy, intense and lively, perfect with seafood or Thai dishes, this is a benchmark dry riesling.
Winsor Dobbin winsordobbin.com.au 23 October 08
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
The Traditionale, sourced from the Clare subregions, Polish Hill, Watervale and Sevenhill, provides pure, soft, delicate drinking right now - it's great value.
Chris Shanahan Sunday Canberra Times, 26 October 08
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
Clean and vibrant displaying citrus fruits with delicate notes of bathpowder, musk and mineral. It is a typical Clare Riesling in a very good year. The palate is crisp, fresh and dry with zesty lemon, lime and grapefruit flavours. There is plenty of ripe, soft flavour to balance the bright acid.
Bars&Clubs, October 08
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
“Pikes is a benchmarks for $20 Riesling and in a definitive vintage like 2008 it is a sure-fire winner on any wine list. It is precisely tuned, with integrated flavours of green apples, pure lemon and concentrated lime. There's no urgency to wait for it because it's raring to go right from the start.”
Wine Business Monthly - Tyson Stelzer - October 2008
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
“This 2008 glided into our selection with effortless grace and paraded its precise balance and integrated flavours of green apples, pure lemon and concentrated lime in style. ”
Matthew Jukes & Tyson Stetzer - Taste Food & Wine 2009
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
“The estate level riesling from Pikes delivers super fine lemon and lime citrus fruit in 2008; there's brightness and a lively precise nature here. Assertive acid crunch and impressive depth and detail, slate-flavoured minerals, pure, scintillating and balanced..”
The Adelaide Review Hot 100 - 2008
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2008
“Pikes is a benchmarks for $20 rieslings and in a definitive vintage like 2008 it is a sure-fire winner on any wine list. It is precisely tuned, with integrated flavours of green apples, pure lemon and concentrated lime. There's no urgency to wait for it because it's raring to go right from the start.”
Tyson Stelzer, October 2008
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2007
“I love Red Wine. In the summer though, it can be a bit too hot for a structured, heavy red. When cutting my teeth on wine in the early 1980's, I was introduced to German Rieslings. I LOVED them.
With varieties ranging from slightly sweet and refreshing to almost candy like, the German Rieslings were a great introduction to wine. Easy to drink, affordable, and always readily available. I learned a lot about German Riesling during this period of my life. As my tastes became more sophisticated, I transitioned to red wines, and sadly, never looked back.
Two wonderful friends and wine experts introduced me to this wine and re-introduced me to Riesling. Although not German, this Riesling radically changed my perception of this noble grape.
Pikes Estate is located in the Clare Valley of Australia. Although mostly known for its Shiraz, it is also famous for its "bone-dry" (Read - Not Sweet) Rieslings. I was flabbergasted when I tasted this wine. Instead of slightly sweet, it was remarkably refreshing and completely different then I expected. I would have never guessed in a blind tasting that this was a Riesling. Wow, this was a very exciting wine!
It poured a medium straw color, almost looks like a savignon blanc. The nose of Lime zest, grapefruit and mineral was fantastic. It is intensely flavored, very dry and refreshing. The limey flavors are prevalent up front, evolving to citrus and stone fruit and mineral. It has a long, dry finish. It is VERY refreshing yet intense.
This wine is beautiful. From the packaging to the price. Although many of you will balk at paying US$28 retail for this wine, you need to look at the money spent as tuition. It will allow you to learn what dry Australian Riesling is all about, and dispel all previous stereotypes about this Noble grape.
This is a quality wine, and a steal for the price paid. Another little known fact....this wine will evolve and age in the bottle for up to 10 years. Why wait? This wine is delicious and refreshing now. Today it is 95 degrees with painful humidity....I can't wait to crack open an iced bottle when I get home this evening.”
Gerry Dunn - Winedope.com - July 2008
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2007
“Expect this to improve in both the short and long term. Grapefruit notes dominate. Taut and terrific with impressive length..”
Ken Gargett - Courier Mail, 26 July 08
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2007
“TOP 100 WINE FOR 2008. We in the UK have to fight for a much larger allocation of this wine because it is, every year, one of the finest of its kind in Australia and it sells out far too quickly here. Neil Pike has a marksman’s touch with Riesling and his ‘Traditionale’ wine has the amazing knack of tasting as amazing in its youth as it does with a decade under it belt..”
Matthew Jukes.com - 21st May 2008
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2007
“The 2007 "Traditionale' Riesling displays vibrant, fresh citrus fruit characters and a dry, crisp, refreshing palate that is refreshing as always. Coming from a warmer vintage and possessing a slightly richer than usual fruit intensity, the wine is already drinking nicely. Bottled under screwcap it should develop beautifully over the medium term - say the next 4-6 years.”
Jeremy Olivier. Australian Medicine, 3 March 08
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2007
“One of the most consistent producers in the Clare, Pikes always over-delivers on riesling quality. Pure, precise and perfectly ripe, this shows soft blossom aromas over a bed of muddled limes, and finishes fine and long. It's delicious with fish and chips.”
Australian Table, March 08
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2007
“The Polish Hill's normal reserve has shown to advantage in the warm 2007 vintage and the Pike's "Traditionale" is fragrant of apple, lime blossom and a trace of spice. Quite full and intense on the palate but with racy acidity, it already shows loads of charm.”
www.eatanddrink.com.au - November 2007
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2007
“A fine, delicate, almost floral white that has focused, intense, limey flavours, some slatey, minerally notes and lively, zippy acidity.”
Peter Forrestal - Sunday Times - 18 November 2007
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2007
“One of the Clare's most recognisable labels delivers again with heady white lemon flower blossoms in the air and chalky minerals line through the palate as its clean citrus fruit flavours come to the fore. Well built with commanding acidity that suggests a long ageing potential.”
Top 100 Wines - Adelaide Advertiser, 21 November 07
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2007
“Pikes make outstanding riesling in the Clare Valley's highly regarded Polish Hill River sub-district. This has essency regional and varietal personality that hints at flowers, limes and green apples. It's tangy, long and complete with great presence.” 5 Stars
Sally Gudgeon & Ralph Kyte Powell - Uncorked Wine Guide - Sunday Life – 18 November 07
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2007
Bronze Medal - 2007 Riesling Challenge Canberra
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2007
This cuvee marries a range of small parcels from around the district with estate grown fruit, reliably delivering year afer year. Charming fine fragrance and sweet floral notes sit over ripe fresh squeezed lime. Superbly fresh and flavoursome Riesling, bags of limes and lemons, balanced and ripe.
92 points, Nick Stock WBM100 - October 2007
PIKES TRADITIONALE RIESLING 2006
The 2006 Dry Riesling is medium straw in color with an attractive perfume of mineral, grapefruit,
and lemon-lime. Dry on the palate, intensely flavored, and a bit austere in personality, the wine
is well-balanced and long. It can be enjoyed over the next 1-2 years but should evolve for a
decade in the manner of a top German Riesling.
88 points - The Wine Advocate - October 2007
Pale gold. Racy lemon and orange scents are brightened by dusty minerals. Ripe quince and pear on the palate, framed by juicy acidity and finishing with a spicy bite of citrus zest. This gained intensity with air, suggesting that it will reward cellaring-as usual for this bottling.
90(+?) points, Stephen Tanzer 2007
Gold Medal - 2007 Riesling Challenge. Named in Top 10 for second year running
"A clean, floral bouquet; supple smooth and flavoursome citrus and lime fruit; gentle acidity on a long finish."
94 points, James Halliday - Australian wine companion 2008
PIKES RIESLING 2005
“The driest of a group of very dry Rieslings, this lean white leads with scents of lime and grapefruit pith. Cool and angular on the palate, it has a salty tang to accent its fresh lime flavors and a bright granular texture that will sing with ceviche or poached white fish ”.
LA Times - May 2007 - "Standout Whites from Australia"
“The delicate scents of limes seem more frangrant and vibrant as this wine arcs from initial aromas through a full, round texture, to the lasting finish. It ends clean, light enough to allow some of the soil character to come through, ready for oysters”
91 Points. Wine & Spirit Magazine - Feb 2007
“Very restrained in typical Polish Hill River style; a bone dry finish, and certain to repay cellaring”.
93 Points. James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2007
“An excellent example of Clare Valley riesling from a very respected maker. Shows plenty of ripe riesling fruit with fresh limes and floral fragrances to the fore.
Drinking a treat right now, but a classic Clare riesling with cellaring potential”.
Paddy Kendler, WineOutlaw, May 2006
MATTHEW JUKES TOP 100 AUSTRALIAN WINES 2006.
GOLD MEDAL – 2005 Clare Valley Wine Show.
“Sweetness backed by limey acidity on the nose. An attractive mix of limes, apples and greengage spiced up with a perfumed fragrance on the palate. Sweetness and ripeness comes through on the mid palate and lasts well”.
92 Points. Derek Smedley MW– Australia Day Tasting, London, February 2006.
“Neil Pike has made the most of the cracking 2005 vintage and bundled spectacular fruit intensity and grip into this wine. The finish is white knuckle dry and the mid-palate bites back every time you think it is relaxing into lushness. A top wine and one that will last a decade or more”.
Matthew Jukes - Tasting Australia, October 2005.
“Pikes is a leader in great Clare Riesling, and the 2005 is a blindingly inexpensive stunner! Classic Clare Valley lemon lime and green apple fruit is a great start, but its real highlight lies below the surface in its fine, minerally acidity which streams out through a very long finish. Real class. Real bargain”.
94 Points. Tyson Stelzer – www.winepress.com.au
“When a good-to-excellent vintage combines with one of the regions best and most consistent wineries, the results are sure to be worth sampling. A tight floral nose with hints of honeysuckle and musk lead into a typically lean, crisp Clare Valley Riesling palate with lime and citrus flavours and a long delicate finish. It’s wonderful to drink now but, as with all Pikes Rieslings, will surely reward further cellaring too.
Something Special. Fergus Mcghie – Canberra Times, Handpicked, February 2006.
"Light gold. Pear, nectarine and apple aromas complicated by stone, petrol and flowers; very riesling. Round and gentle, with ripe orchard fruit flavors given shape and precision by dry mineral tones. A juicy, fresh riesling that offers a nice mix of ripe and tangy fruits and finishes on a bright note of lime zest".
89 Points. Josh Raynolds - Tanzer's Wine Cellar, July 2006.
PIKES RIESLING 2004
“Floral lime blossom and spice aromas; a delicate and elegant palate, but has good length and balance”
92 Points. James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion 2005
“A tangy and refreshing riesling whose lime juice and lemon fragrance is backed by hints of minerals and baby powder. Lightly phenolic, it’s lean, taut and mineral, with a shapely palate of chalky, citrusy fruit finishing with fresh, bony acids an austere hint of slate”
92 Points. Jeremy Oliver – Onwine, August 2005.
“Pale gold. Rich, expressive aromas of ripe pear and lemon gelato. Supple and plump in the mouth, displaying flavors of mandarin orange, pear tart and lime zest. Fat, round and velvety on the back end.”
88 Points. Stephen Tanzer – International Wine Cellar 2005.
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