Mitchell Watervale Riesling: Heaven in a $22 bottle!
Whilst a dry Riesling isn’t my regular ‘go to’, you develop a craving for the style at the back end of every Brisbane summer.
With the quality of the 2024 ‘Clare Valley’ vintage being talked up by the critics of late I had no trepidation when my local agent recently offered me a bottle of the 2024 Mitchell ‘Watervale’ Riesling to put through its paces. Having already been bowled over by another fantastic ‘24 ‘Rizza’ (Grosset Polish Hill) just a few months earlier I suspected I’d be pleasantly surprised. Over the next 5 nights the Mitchell didn’t just surprise me, it reminded me that utterly delicious wine can still be found for a mere pittance. Fresh and impeccably balanced, with no sharp edges in sight, the only difficulty I had was wondering whether I should buy more and drink them now or put them in the cellar for a little while. As I type, I am confident that it will be the former! At just $22, it’s a brilliant example of what the Clare Valley does best.
Critics from home and abroad including Gary Walsh (Winefront) and Stuart Piggott (James Suckling’s senior editor and one of the world’s most respected Riesling critics) offer up some stunning reviews on the 2024 Mitchell…
“Mitchell don’t make ‘wincey face’ Riesling. They do something different. This offers flavour and texture. It’s soft, but has balanced acidity, with ripe apple and pink grapefruit, lemon sorbet, and a bit of perfume about it, and that fine chalky texture and grip on the long finish is so nice, with a gentle quinine bite and some savoury bits. Drink 2025-2034+” 95pts, Gary Walsh
“The vibrant jasmine and white peach aromas of this youthful dry Riesling leap out of the glass at you. Great concentration and purity on the totally focused, medium-bodied palate. More than enough juicy peach fruit to balance the glistening samurai-sword acidity that powers the very long, wet-stone and lime finish. Already delicious but also has great aging potential. Drink or hold.” 96pts, Stuart Piggott for James Suckling
Despite being one of the Clare’s top Riesling producers, Mitchell Wines is a small, family-owned winery in South Australia’s Clare Valley that often flies under the radar. The family property, purchased in 1949, started as a dairy farm and orchard, with a small hobby vineyard cared for by Peter McNicol Mitchell. In 1975, Peter’s son Andrew took over, establishing Mitchell Wines and continuing the family’s focus on producing quality wines from their mature, dry-grown vineyards.
Whilst the Watervale Riesling is always a highlight, the Mitchell Peppertree Shiraz also delivers outstanding value with the added benefit of 6+ years of age. Priced at only $27, it delivers rich dark fruit flavours with a touch of mint and spice, making it a reliable choice for those who enjoy a well-balanced, medium-bodied aged red.Mitchell Wines offers a thoughtful range that reflects both the region and the family’s hands-on approach - worth exploring if you haven’t yet!
