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 2025 from the winemaker, Time Kirk: “The 2025 season was magnificent. Good rain in late spring/early summer rain and consistent, steady warmth right through to mid-autumn. The fruit came in pristine, intensely flavoured and perfectly balanced. Subtle florals, ripe apple and bright citrus notes. Drink now or cellar with confidence. Watch lime and toast characters emerge with age.”
95 points and Top 100 wines of 2025, and Best White Wines Under $40, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion “Ah riesling – vintage barely done and dusted yet here you are in my glass. You’re a delight and delicious, even in this still-evolving stage; the patient will be rewarded, so pop some away in the cellar. Open it today and you’ll be greeted by a waft of lemon and lime blossom, waxy hoya flowers and plenty of citrus tang on the palate, with a distinct mandarin flavour. There are no harsh edges with the acidity, just a lovely sensation of talc and texture.”
94+ points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, July 2025 “..This is super young, obviously, but it has a weight and a power and it’s going to turn out to be something. It’s floral in an exotic way, shows notes of orange in with its general lemon-and-lime, and has a slate-like, tonic aspect tucked neatly into its core. This wine is still sorting itself out but presence, power and length are key features.”
RRP $38 *Our Special Price $32.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine*
