Description
What a remarkable journey for Clonakilla. When John Kirk first planted vines in 1971 who would have thought it would be celebrated as one of Australia’s finest vineyards! Their first Shiraz Viognier was made in 1998 – by 2005 it was deemed ‘Outstanding’ in Langton’s Australian Wine Classification … by 2010 it was promoted to “Exceptional” .. up there with Grange and Hill of Grace! Murrumbateman & Canberra wine region is all about cool climate shiraz … complex layering of raspberry, violets, spice, cracked pepper, roast game with darker blackberry, blackcurrant and aniseed in warmer years. Clonakilla’s shiraz across the board including the Hilltops and O’Riada remind me of syrah at it’s best from famed ‘Cote Rotie’ in France’s Northern Rhone.
About this wine from the winemaker, Tim Kirk: “This Shiraz is made from grapes selected from four vineyards in the Hilltops district around Young on the Southwestern slopes of New South Wales. The fruit was destemmed and fermented in open fermenters with twice daily pump overs with 12 to 16 days on skins. Post ferment the wine was racked to French oak puncheons and barriques, around 10% new, for 12 months.
“Spring rainfall was surprisingly healthy, given the forecast for a strong El Nino effect. October frost reduced yields in some sites. The warm weather did arrive though mid to late summer and excellent ripening conditions prevailed. The nett result: lower volumes of very high-quality fruit showing rich, ripe aromatics and generally intense fruit flavours.”
NEW VINTAGE IS HERE!
93 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front “This release is as pitch perfect as they come. Medium in body, fruit-driven but with savoury and herbal inputs, slipped with tannin and satisfying through the finish. Prettiness, lightness and darkness are all afforded equal billing, which then allows toasty, meaty, umami characters to work around the edges. This is an excellent wine to buy and drink.”
RRP $35 **Our Special Price $28.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine**
