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The 2023 Rieslingfreak No.12 Flaxman Valley Riesling from the Eden Valley in South Australia has been crowned Australia’s Best in the 2025 Halliday Wine Awards.
The team at Rieslingfreak took to their Instagram to share their excitement, saying: “To say we are over the moon would be an understatement! Belinda and I were very happy with our 2023 Rieslings and No.12 was no exception, but to receive this acknowledgement is just wonderful.
“We would like to pay tribute to Flaxman Valley Growers, Ben Zander and Mark Bartholomaeus for providing us with such great fruit to work with.”
Mike Bennie from the Halliday Wine Companion Tasting Team praised the No.12, describing the wine as “electric” and “the freakiest riesling freaks of all”.
“So much vigour and perkiness, a vibrant and poised white that delivers strong mineral charm, beautifully brittle acidity and tension and length in spades. Ultra floral scents with lime, blackcurrant, white pepper, talc, flint, warm steel and chamomile,” Mike Bennie said.
“The palate a superb echo with succulent, mineral-charged texture and a sense of pristine, pretty fruit in tow. A delicate expression with compelling energy and drinkability as its charter. “
Coming in at $37, the No.12 scored an incredible 98 points (PD*) in the competition. The wine itself offers strong aromas of Kaffir lime, guava, passionflower, and rosewater, with classic Eden Valley minerality.
The palate features zesty Tahitian lime, lemongrass, and fresh quince, along with a touch of flinty mineral notes. Its crisp acidity gives it a vibrant, lasting finish, making it a standout from the 2023 vintage with both immediate appeal and great aging potential.
Besides this accolade, the No.12 was also featured in “The Real Review Top Wineries – 10 Must Try Wines”. So, we’re assuming you want to give it a try now (if you haven’t already)? Lucky for you, in addition to this prestigious award, Rieslingfreak has recently opened a brand-new Riesling Tasting Room.
Launched in early July, the room offers 18 different Riesling styles. It’s here, you can now try ‘Australia’s best Riesling’ and experience firsthand why Rieslingfreak’s 2023 No.12 Flaxman Valley Riesling is receiving such high acclaim.
For more on the 2025 Riesling of the Year, click here.
For more information on Rieslingfreak, click here.
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