For John Hughes, the attraction to Riesling is all encompassing. Growing up on a small vineyard in the Clare Valley, and going on to work with some of the brightest Riesling makers in the country before launching his own venture, John is never far away from his beloved grape. John makes classic Australian styles from carefully selected vineyards with an emphasis on purity and site reflection, as well as German-inspired expressions that balance acidity and sugar with singular precision.

Following on from the German Kabinett style, this wine is low in alcohol with a finely-tuned balance of succulent residual sweetness and tangy natural acidity.

Firstly, if you were drinking this style in Germany, at this level of quality, you'd likely be in the vicinity of five times this price. That aside, this is a decidedly and dedicated medium-sweet style of riesling, delivering the glossy sheen of honey on green apple skin. It has a perfume and palate of jasmine tea, lavender, candied citrus peel and cumquat. Highly perfumed, wonderfully evocative of its intended style, with precision in texture, weight and harmony of fruit, electric acidity and residual sugar. Bring on that chalky pucker to finish. Superb. Date: Aug 2026; Alcohol: 9%; Price: $40.00; Drink by: 2035; Rating: 97 Points & Special Value Star; James Halliday Wine Companion