Galafrey Reserve Riesling 2024

Accolades

94 Points – Ray Jordan
Ray highlights the use of only free run juice, calling out the wine’s purity and almost pristine character. He notes regional and varietal spiciness working alongside citrus and lemon peel, with a fine palate, real tension, deep Riesling intensity and a long, racy finish.

93 Points – Mike Bennie, Wine Companion
Mike describes it as a perfumed, pretty Riesling leaning into citrus blossom florals, concentrated lime juice, red apple freshness and pink grapefruit zest. He also praises the light chalkiness of the texture and calls it crystal clear and clearly delicious.

Tasting Notes 🍋

• Appearance
  Pale straw with green tinges and brilliant clarity.
• Aromatics
  The Reserve leads with pure, lifted citrus. Intense lemon and lime sit over citrus blossom, red apple and a subtle regional spice. There is a hint of wet stone and talc that gives a strong sense of place.
• Palate
  Concentrated yet finely etched. A full sweep of lemon and lime flavours runs through the palate, supported by grapefruit zest and crunchy red apple. The free run juice gives finesse and clarity, while the dry grown fruit adds depth and drive. A light chalky texture from the cool climate and ancient soils adds interest without weight.
• Finish
  Long, crisp and racy. The acid line is precise and mouth watering, carrying citrus and mineral notes well past the last sip.

Viticulture 🌱

• Region: Mount Barker, Great Southern, Western Australia

• Vineyard: 41 year old, 12 hectare dry grown estate vineyard

• Irrigation: None (dry grown)

• Soils: Ancient gravelly loams, ideal for fine, mineral Riesling

• Yields: Around 2 tonnes per hectare, with small bunches and berries

Old, unirrigated vines produce smaller berries with thicker skins, concentrating flavour and natural acidity. The cool climate of Mount Barker ensures slow ripening, building layered citrus flavour while retaining purity and freshness.

Vintage 2024

A dry start to the season led to one of the earliest vintages on record. Record temperatures and revolving heatwaves made ripening conditions tricky, but with careful vineyard management, quality remained high even as volumes dropped. The result for Riesling is low yielding, intensely flavoured fruit with powerful citrus character, firm acidity and real drive on the palate.

Winemaking 🍷

• Style: Reserve Riesling from 100 percent free run juice

• Juice selection: Only the purest free run portion is used to enhance finesse and clarity

• Fermentation: Cool fermentation in stainless steel to preserve aromatics and acid line

• Approach: Meticulous viticulture and winemaking aimed at expressing varietal character and a strong sense of place

• Balance: Built to be lively, well structured, age worthy and, above all, highly drinkable

Galafrey’s Riesling philosophy is all about chalk, mineral, lime and intensity, tuned to the vintage conditions each year. The Reserve bottling takes that up a notch by focusing only on the finest juice and the best parcels of fruit.

Technical

• Alcohol: 12 %

Serving and Cellaring ❄️

• Serving temperature: 6 to 9 degrees

• Drink: Fantastic now for its electric citrus and floral lift

• Cellaring: Has the structure and acidity to age beautifully for many years, developing honeyed, toasty and more complex mineral notes over time

Food Pairing Suggestions 🍽️

• Smoked salmon or ocean trout with lemon and dill

• Freshly caught whiting, lightly crumbed and pan fried

• Natural oysters or scallops with citrus dressing

• Sushi and sashimi with wasabi and pickled ginger

• Goat cheese, feta or a simple citrus and fennel salad

FAQ 🧐

Is it dry or sweet?
This is a dry Riesling. The intensity of lemon and lime is balanced by crisp acidity rather than sweetness.

What makes the Reserve different from a standard Riesling?
The Reserve is made from 100 percent free run juice and specially selected dry grown fruit, giving extra purity, finesse and intensity compared to a broader estate blend.

Do I need to decant it?
Not essential, but pouring it into a jug or carafe and giving it a little air can help the florals and citrus blossom characters open up.