2025 Pikes The Merle Riesling

Taut and tense in it’s structure yet showing superb drive and concentration.

Named in tribute to Pike’s family matriarch, ‘The Merle’ is a selection of the best parcels of Riesling from their Polish Hill River Estate.
Brilliant water like colour with a faint greenish tinge around the edges. A mix of lime, citrus, orange and green apple scents attack the nostrils with plenty of intensity. Trailing notes of talc, chalky mineral characters then chime in. Tense yet concentrated, racy lime, lemon and Granny Smith apple flavours are sculptured by a crisp line of acidity. Terrific drive with wet steel, chalky talc and mineral elements lingering through the long taut, linear finish.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 11.5%

Other Reviews….
This has always been a special wine for Pikes, and the fruit is sourced from the best parts of the Polish Hill River estate. Made similarly to the Traditional, with 100% free-run juice, however receives a slightly longer time on lees, providing a balance with that fine natural acidity and producing a textural mouthfeel that loses nothing as far as maintaining that linear line through to the finish. The nose displays that citrus lime character and a slightly pebbly talc-like influence. There is real intensity and drive through the palate here, and it extends effortlessly but with purpose through to a long finish. It’s a lovely wine. Drink 2025-2040.
95 Points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.com

This is from the best parcels of Riesling from their Polish Hill River estate. In other news, I’ve finally thrown in the towel and started wearing reading glasses. This at the ripe old age of 55. I have to say, I find them annoying to wear while tasting because my glass often touches the frames. On the upside, I do look very handsome in them, and they probably raise my IQ by a few points. Anyway, I think of our own BBPP when I taste this wine, which makes me frown a bit, thus offering an extra dimension to my new found reading glasses wearing persona.
Quite some perfume here. I’m thinking lemongrass, lavender, bath salts, and fresh cut ginger. Lime juice and pink grapefruit, a fine dusty feel to it, and a something of a gin and tonic refreshment value. The acidity is juicy and firm, but not hard, and the finish is very long, spicy and chalky. There’s purity and restraint here, and it feels like it will do very well in the cellar. Drink 2026-2037+
95 Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front