Langton’s Selections Pikes Reserve Riesling, Pikes Riesling, Pikes Reserve Shiraz Like Mitchell, this small Clare Valley producer deserves more recognition for its beautifully defined Rieslings and fruit driven Shirazes. Pikes Wines was established in 1984 by Neil and Andrew Pike and now comprises 140 acres/55 hectares of southeast facing vineyard planted on red/brown earth over yellow clay subsoil and slate in the cool Polish Hill River sub-region of the Clare Valley. The vines are trellised to a single wire with moveable foliage wires for vertical shoot positioning. Supplementary irrigation is used only when necessary. The fruit is all picked by hand at optimum ripeness. Its crisply structured Traditionale Riesling is cold settled prior to fermentation in stainless steel tanks. It is a very fresh classical Clare style.
All of the old reserve wines have been given new names based on family.The Merle Riesling (named after Merle Pike) is a profoundly aromatic and concentrated wine with plenty of lemon curd aromas and minerally acidity. The EWP Reserve Shiraz – with a touch of Viognier – is named after Edgar Walter Pike and is matured for 24 months in new French oak. The Premio Sangiovese Merlot, also a part of the Reserve range, is slightly off-beat and doesn’t really have much presence on the secondary wine market. Pike’s have several different cuvees including Eastside Shiraz, The Red Mullet, Luccio Sangiovese Blend, Hill Block Cabernet Sauvignon and Assemblage Shiraz Mourvedre Grenache. It also makes a Luccio Pinot Grigio and Damside Chardonnay. Pike’s is a very popular producer in the Clare Valley although it has only a small presence on the secondary market. It is making quintessential Rieslings which deserve mention. Andrew Caillard MW, Langton's