Golds galore for clos Clare Riesling & Grenache from Tom and Sam
The Barry brothers of clos Clare are no strangers to show success – the current vintage of their Watervale Riesling, the 2019, is the Best Riesling Trophy holder from the National Wine Show of Australia – and now the streets are paved in gold from Clare all the way to Adelaide.
Tom and Sam picked up 95 points and a gold medal for their Grenache at the Clare Valley Wine Show. Their next-release Riesling from 2020 also scored gold at both Clare and the Royal Adelaide Wine Show. Even more impressively, their Riesling also scored a gold medal in the Wine of Provenance class at the Clare Valley Wine Show, where they entered the 2010, 2012 and 2020.
The best news is that you have the 2020 to look forward to (watch this space!) and we have a tiny bit of 2012 Riesling available (be quick!). And in the meantime, you can lap up the last of that excellent 2019 clos Clare Riesling.
2019 clos Clare Riesling $32
Best Riesling Trophy, National Wine Show of Australia 2019
This is archetypal. Quintessential. Classic. A taut thread of lime juice, grapefruit and candied lemon zest woven by a spindle of pumice, slate and bright acidity. Transparent. A flowing stream of flavour. Inimitably Clare. This will fill out with bottle age. 94 points. Ned Goodwin MW, Halliday Wine Companion 2021
2012 clos Clare Riesling $40
Gold medal, Wine of Provenance at Clare Valley Wine Show 2020
Bright, light straw-green; from 42-year-old vines, the grapes whole bunch pressed and cold-fermented; the bouquet is filled with blossom aromas, and the palate has remarkable depth to its layers of ripe citrus fruits, the length equally impressive. Drink now or later. 95 points. James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion
2014 clos Clare Riesling $42
From a 44-year-old dry-grown vineyard, hand-picked, chilled overnight, then whole bunch pressed. Apple and lemon blossom fragrance sets the scene for a particularly elegant and focused palate; while still in a primary phase, and very delicate, it has utterly perfect line, length and balance. 95 points. James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion
2019 clos Clare Grenache $29
95 points and gold medal at Clare Valley Wine Show
A fully destemmed parcel was blended with another duo: 10% and 20% whole-bunch respectively. The destemmed lot was extracted over the course of a month, or thereabouts. The oak, all neutral. The result is a conflation of chalky, pumice-clad tannins and bouncy red fruit, with the strongest accent on candied raspberry kirsch. Best drunk on the cooler side. 93 points. Ned Goodwin MW, Halliday Wine Companion 2021