2025 NOT YOUR GRANDMA'S* Eden Valley Riesling

2025

93pts "Definitely not my grandmother’s Eden Valley Riesling. She was convinced that so much as looking at a bottle of alcohol meant eternal damnation. I always find it a little ironic that she made the world’s best lemon butter on toast, which is, of course, a typical character found in aged Riesling. She would, however, have approved of what excellent value this wine is. From the Noack Vineyard in the southern parts of the Eden Valley, the vines are up to 55 years in age. A shining lemon hue, there are attractive citrusy notes, with limes, lemons and grapefruit. There is also a touch of a fragrant lemon detergent note, something I find as a positive. In addition, hints of florals, river pebbles and bath salts. The structure is seamless with fine balance and medium length. A touch firm on the finish, this will provide pleasure over the next 8–10 years." - SA Wine Guide 2026

93pts "Pale lemon with jasmine and lime curd aromatics. Lively palate flowing well, white flowers, lemon curd and oyster shell adding character. Runs long with a touch of richness softening the drive of acidity into the finish" - Stuart Knox, The Real Review

92pts + Special Value "Riesling from a selection of sites in the southern Eden Valley. Pale straw, with aromas of freshly squeezed lime juice, green apple and grapefruit, hints of crushed stone, Christmas lily and orange blossom, almond paste, fennel and mineral salts. Plenty of flavour and just a touch of grapefruit-pith texture on the palate, with a light curd aspect on a taut mineral framework" - Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion

91pts "Honeysuckle, lemon blossoms and nectarines on the nose of this floral and fragrant white. It’s medium-bodied with good depth and a soft honey undertone. Drink or hold. Screw cap." - James Suckling Reviews

2024

94pts "Deeper aromatics set the tone here. Lime flesh and zest underly an engaging, persistent fragrance, with delicate musk notes offering sophistication and depth to the palate as well. A very attractive wine crafted with sensitive touch" - SA Wine Guide 2025

92pts + Top Value "Very pale lemon lime hue. White flower, talcum and grapefruit aromas. Pure and bright on the palate, white nectarine, chalk and lemon at the core. Acidity adds a lift and tension but it doesn’t ever overreach, and the supple and delicate glide carries it long. Really delicious stuff at a bargain price" - Stuart Knox, The Real Review

92pts + Special Value "Freshly squeezed lime, lemon and grapefruit with hints of green apple sorbet, orange blossom, crushed quartz, lime zest and lemongrass. Dry and savoury on the palate with a nice textural shift and a precise finish that's both stony and limey at once. I really like the palate shape here, all sleek, composed and tautly stretched" - Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion

92pts "A delicate release this vintage. Possibly more pure than previous releases. Lime zest and flesh, mineral water, fine ground chalk, a touch of orange citrus and suggestion of rose water with a brush of native fennel frond. Moreish, with mineral drive spine through an almost waxy, juicy, lychee-fleshed texture. Cutting, yet calm and that lingering musky, rose water, CWA shop leaving a smile through the tail. Neat value indeed" - Regan Drew, Vino Notebook

91pts + Silver Premium - Canberra International Riesling Challenge 2024

2023

93pts "Old-vine riesling from Sprinton in the Eden Valley. Pale straw with aromas of freshly squeezed lime juice with hints of crushed stone, Christmas lily and orange blossom, a whiff of freshly sliced fennel bulb and marzipan. The wine swells on the palate, some yellow plum and green apple sweeping in along with some textural slinkiness that is most appealing; finishing dry and chalky with a generous shot of Bickford's lime cordial" - Halliday Wine Companion

92pts "Pale lemon colour. Fragrant aromas of gardenia, lime zest and lemon curd lift from the glass. Bright green apple, musky florals and chalk characters fill the palate as it carries with lift of light and bright acidity. There is a lot going on throughout and it manages to show a seamless flow even at such a young age" - Stuart Knox, The Real Review

2022

93pts "Sourced from an old-vine (35+ years) riesling vineyard in Springton in the Eden Valley. Pale straw in the glass with characters of freshly squeezed lime juice with hints of Christmas lily, crushed stone, lemon zest and lighter notes of freshly cut fennel and marzipan. Voluminous yet precise with a clean, swift cadence over the palate and a wonderful air of purity and zest. Jeez, it's lovely drinking." - Halliday Wine Companion

90pts "Lime flesh and apple skin with slap in the face freshness of sea spray, a suggestion of rosewater, “Nice” biscuit, coriander and green leaves. Cuddly and generous fleshy feels tempered with a little grainy phenolics and puckering green apple acidity giving a fine drive. No need to overthink it. Ready to cut through tempura battered fish and chips or trays full of pot stickers" - Regan Drew, Vino Notebook

90pts + Top Value "Very pale lemon and lime tints with white flowers, grapefruit, and shortcrust pastry aromatics. A richer, more textural style of riesling that still sits with citrus and tropical fruit but has a density and savoury pastry tone through the core that sets it apart. Acidity is soft but does drive and the long finish is still mostly dry. Food is your friend here" - Stuart Knox, The Real Review

90pts "Still very young and a bit closed, this has an unusual cassis note in the nose for an Eden Valley dry riesling. More lime zest on the rather textural, medium-bodied palate" - James Suckling Reviews

Silver Medal - Decanter WWA 2023

Silver Medal - Melbourne International Wine Challenge

2021

Ranked #4 (Top 2021 Riesling) + 95pts "Brothers-in-law Theo Engela and Daniel Chaffey Hartwig define themselves as part perfumiers, part historians, part mad scientists. They look for vibrancy and personality in their wines, Grapes for Not Your Grandma's Riesling are grown on a plot more than 40 years old at 450m in Springton, northeast of Adelaide. JK Lovely bright perfume, freshly squeezed limes, a dash of rose, a salty, maritime lift. A sumptuous feel, textured and round. A touch of bergamot and a soft eathery touch. Forward, but will age nicely. RJ Hints of tropics, touch of banana, fresh acidity, some citrus peel, zing and zang, gentle jasmine and some herbaceous characters. JS Expressive nose, delicacy on the palate with underlying power, an almost exotically floral finish. Soft with a steely core." - Decanter, Australian Riesling Roundup, June 2022

91pts "Super fresh aromatics and some flint, as well as lemon, lime and spice. Lots of talc. The palate has a juicy, fleshy feel with an open-knit apple and lime focus. Drink now. Chalky. Screw cap." - James Suckling

Silver Medal - Melbourne International Wine Challenge

2020

91pts "Bright, ripe-peach and lemon with hints of melon here, too. The palate has a very crisp, vibrant and elegant feel with intense, attractive peach flavor." - James Suckling Reviews

90pts + Top Value "Fragrant aromas of bath salts, talc, lime leaf and slate. Crunchy, pithy and lemony, and there's a lovely soft acidity that makes for a really approachable, smart glass of riesling." - Aaron Brasher, The Real Review

2018

92pts "Light, bright yellow colour, with a green kaffir lime and crushed herb aromas, the palate delicate and refined, with tension and length and a trace of phenolic grip that adds to its texture and persistence. A tickle of sweetness, too. Slaty, fine and long." - Huon Hooke, The Real Review

2017

91pts "From 18-40yo vines at the Noack Vineyard at Springton. Crisp and fresh, as behoves the vintage. Light, floral and delicate lime. Certain to develop very well." - Halliday Wine Companion

2016

91pts "This turns up the citrus dial with lemon-lime blossom/juice/drops and zest with some mint too. It's refreshing with slatey, racy acidity and a slight bitter finish." - Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion

2015

92pts "Exactly as it should be. Floral and limey with just enough intensity and just enough length. Smells/tastes good, without resorting to trickery." - Campbell Mattinson, Halliday Wine Companion

2010

90pts "Bright light to medium yellow colour. Delicious fresh, fragrant yet complex and developed bouquet showing lemon, lime, grapefruit and creamy yeast/lees characters. Geranium chalky character. Rich palate: full and smooth, soft and textural, most impressive wine in all. Definitely riesling, but takes it to another level. Long, flawless and harmonious finish." - Huon Hooke, The Real Review