2025 Swinney Riesling

94 POINTS

Ray Jordan

It's pretty obvious that riesling in 2025 has emerged as a highlight variety. This one is an excellent example of the season. The aromas show a subtle lemon pith minerality with some quite distinctive spiciness, which you sometimes get in the Great Southern. The palate offers intense fruit with a lovely texture while still retaining that fine linear structure sustained by a gentle acidity. Excellent for current drinking, but with some cellaring if you wish.

94 POINTS

Ken Gargett - Winepilot

Riesling from the Frankland River, still obviously very youthful, this hails from the estate’s Powderbark Vineyard. Given three months on lees prior to bottling. Pale straw in hue, there are pungent aromas here, with notes of peaches, minerals, chalk and citrus, especially grapefruit pith, with hints of honeycomb on the finish. There is focus, length and intensity here, and the power is unrestrained. Pristine in style, there is crunchy, sea breeze acidity running the length. A really fine Riesling, this has fifteen years ahead of it.

93 POINTS

Mike Bennie - Halliday Wine Companion

From two blocks off the Swinney Estate vineyard. Whole-bunch pressed; three months on lees. Neat and tidy winemaking, plus the significant site, conspire to create a tightly wound, tangy and refreshing expression of classic lines and intense acidity. It's piercing and zesty, with limes, pink grapefruit, just-ripe cumquat, a light talc note, some slate and steel, with a briny mineral profile in there, too. Compact, youthful and vigorous. A delicious drink, offering key simplicity with some pizzazz.

93 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2025 Riesling is talcy and fresh, restrained and composed. The wine in the mouth has a savory, spicy cast to it, while the acidity is saline and spooling through the long, refreshing finish. This is a very smart wine. I like the chalky texture. 12.7% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

91 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

Whole bunch pressed. Three months on lees. It’s a little wooly, lime and grapefruit, lemon myrtle scents, with something of a cheesy character. Intense, a bit of grip and powdery texture, a little salty, some tangerine and apricot juiciness, a slightly rugged and grainy feel closes out a finish of good length. Quite a robust style but lots of flavour and vigour here

90 POINTS

Angus Hughson - Vinous

The 2025 Riesling Frankland River is a bold expression from this label, offering layered pear and nectarine aromas with a subtle lining of spice. The palate is full flavored, with a zesty core of drying acidity that provides initial impact before fleshing out on the finish.