Naked Run Wines The First Riesling 2021

Steve Baraglia has earned legendary status in Clare Valley through decades of crafting exceptional wines across the region, often working behind the scenes for multiple producers. His deep understanding of Clare Valley's unique terroir and climate allows him to consistently produce wines that showcase the region's distinctive mineral-driven character. The fact that he's responsible for many more wines than he publicly claims speaks to his humble nature and widespread influence in shaping Clare Valley's reputation for world-class riesling.

Clare Valley's elevation, cool climate, and ancient soils create ideal conditions for riesling, producing wines with intense citrus flavours and distinctive mineral backbone. The region's diurnal temperature variation - warm days and cool nights - allows grapes to develop complex aromatics while retaining crucial acidity. This terroir consistently delivers rieslings with exceptional aging potential and the signature lime-citrus profile that has made Clare Valley riesling a benchmark style globally.

A 96-point score from James Suckling places this riesling in the 'outstanding' category, indicating exceptional quality that rivals the world's finest examples. Combined with Huon Hooke's 95-point rating, this wine demonstrates remarkable consistency in impressing top critics with different tasting philosophies. Such high scores for a riesling are particularly noteworthy, as the variety often requires perfect balance between acidity, fruit expression, and mineral complexity to achieve this level of recognition.

Serve this riesling well-chilled at 8-10°C to highlight its crisp citrus and lime characteristics while allowing the mineral notes to shine through. The light-bodied nature makes it perfect as an aperitif or paired with fresh seafood, Asian cuisine, or goat's cheese. Use a tulip-shaped white wine glass to concentrate the aromatic profile, and consider decanting if you want to explore how the wine opens up with a bit of air exposure.

Clare Valley rieslings are renowned for their exceptional aging ability, often developing complex honey and toast notes while maintaining their citrus core over 10-15 years. The 2021 vintage's high acidity and mineral structure suggest this wine will evolve beautifully, transitioning from its current bright lime and citrus profile to more nuanced petrol and honeyed characteristics. Store it in a cool, dark place and consider cellaring some bottles to experience how Clare Valley riesling transforms with time.