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
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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