2024 Jim Barry Watervale Riesling

94 POINTS

James Suckling

Expressive aromas of tangerines, white flowers, citrus and chalk. The palate is light-bodied with racy acidity and a nicely weighted mouthfeel, showing lemons, orange blossoms and melon. Lovely balance of freshness and weight.

93 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

Oh come all ye faithful. This would be superb with a Treasure Chest from Barnacle Bills. I know Adelaide. The home of the mighty double cut roll, which is a huge advance in sandwich technology that seems to have not caught on anywhere else. I love Adelaide, aside from the fact that they don’t pronounce Waymouth Street correctly. It’s waymuth, like Portsmouth, not way mouth. This seems to be a very good JB Riesling. Lemongrass, lime leaf, lime, a bit floral and spicy, with a distinct gin and tonic bite and some bathtime fun perfume. It has a powdery texture, a crisp and lively character, blackcurrant and lavender, and pretty bloody good length. Maybe there’s a little bit of ruggedness to it, but gee, it’s frisky and delicious.

93 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2024 Watervale Riesling is utterly lovely, classic Clare Riesling, with cut lime, green apple, juicy acidity and just a little hint of cheesecloth/lees complexity in the mouth. 2024 was a variable vintage, but those who succeeded did so with aplomb. 12% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

92 POINTS

David Sly - Decanter

The glowing reputation of Riesling from the Watervale sub-region in Clare rests upon the foundation laid down by this important and very affordable wine. Consistent over decades in its flavour profile and vitality, Watervale provides a reliable and delicious entry point to appreciate this sub-region’s fresh, zingy, citrus-driven style of Riesling. It’s pale – almost translucent – and bone dry with a distinct juiciness that allows its lively lemon-and-lime flavours to pop. An edge of lemongrass adds an exotic seam to the palate, while a steely acid spine keeps the flavours running long and true.

92 POINTS

Christina Pickard - Wine Enthusiast

From one of Australia's most famous regions and subregions for Riesling, this is a delicate, dry wine. A zing of tongue-tingling acidity lends brightness to the lavender soap and lime blossom characters. It's light on its feel but carries the acid structure to age in bottle for several more years. It's a bargain for the level of deliciousness.

92 POINTS

Angus Hughson - Vinous

This 2024 Riesling Watervale is youthful and expressive, offering rich aromas of preserved lime and lemon with touches of thyme and spice. A taut and compact palate follows with firm acidity and power ruling over finesse, delivering serious structure and length.

91 POINTS

Mike Bennie - Halliday Wine Companion

A simple, done-well expression of riesling with vivacious lemon-lime Splice fruit characters married to gingery spice, a touch of grassiness, some just-ripe pineapple and a flinty, mineral tickle. Succulent, refreshing, good drinking.