Description
What a remarkable jouney 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.
Murrumbateman’s cool, continental climate and decomposed granite soils are also perfectly suited to Riesling.
About the 2024 from the winery: “2024 is a beautiful vintage. Good spring rain, warm summer days, cool nights and a glorious early autumn. The grapes came in ripe and full of flavour.
Murrumbateman’s cool, continental climate and decomposed granite soils are perfectly suited to Riesling.
Lifted floral notes, bright citrus fruit and river pebble freshness in abundance this year.
95 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front “.. This riesling stands out. It has intensity and it has length, and that’s why it’s an excellent wine, from an excellent season, worthy of a high score. But that’s not what makes it stand out. It’s the slatey, concrete-y, tonic-like side to it, the purity that seems other than fruit, and the amelioration of softness inherent in such characters, that makes you feel as though you’ve stepped into something that’s better than what’s come before.” July 2024.
95 points, Jeni Port, Wine Pilot “One sniff and you’re hooked on the prettiness of it all, the citrus blossom scents, the wildflowers mingling with bright citrus notes of lemon and lime. Clonakilla ‘24 Riesling is so fine and gentle, almost delicate in aroma, but don’t be deceived. There is a considerable depth of complexity and flavour lurking in the glass behind a strikingly brisk level of lemony bright acidity. The wine’s a mere babe at this early stage with a solid core of lime cordial tang, citrus and lemon zest and pith with ginger and lemongrass in waiting in the background. A gentle texture brings forth all kinds of food matching possibilities, while a sweet lemon drop zip brings plenty of immediate drink now appeal. That zesty acid crunch is a real feature. The building blocks for a bright future are in place and it will only get better and better from here.”
94 points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion “What sets this apart is its texture and yes, there’s fine acidity – all cleansing and refreshing but it’s juicy, with a gentle suppleness. It’s floral and spicy with a touch of white pepper, some beeswax and lemon-lime in the mix. Easy to enjoy now in its youth, but it does need more time to add a layer of depth.”
94 points, Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot “When the critics get excited about Aussie Riesling, they so often neglect the gems coming from the Canberra district. A shame, as there are some real stars made here. This is a cool region and the decomposed granite is ideal for the grape. As in so many regions around the country, 2024 is proving a very fine vintage for Riesling. This wine was whole bunch pressed into tank for a thirty day cool ferment and then three months on lees. Near transparent, this offers the inevitable florals and citrus, grapefruit pith and glacéd lemons, with a fine minerally backing. Well focused, with fine, quite vibrant acidity, this has serious length. There are already early hints of the complexity to follow. A cracking example of Riesling and one has to wonder, if their Shiraz Viognier was not so famous (and so good), would this wine be the one to take the spotlight. Drink over the next twenty years if one has the patience.”
RRP $38 Our Price $35.99
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