2003 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier

Community Tasting Notes (42) Avg Score: 93.1 points

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  12/31/2022 - Dr S Likes this wine: 92 Points

  The second 20 year-old Cka SV in a week! (Based on finishing it on 1 Jan 2023.) The 2002 on Boxing Day 22 was a silky delight and, after breathing up, fresher than expected. The 03 also looked better after extended breathing. A sturdier customer but not without its charms.
  
  Surprisingly brighter on the second night, a nice start to the New Year. The initial old leathery characters had subsided, to give more space for the blackberry /raspberry to show on the nose and palate. The savoury earthy/graphite notes lent it a decidedly Nthn Rhone feel, reminiscent of the 1999 Cote Roties tasted at the 20 year mark.
  
  2003 was a stinking hot vintage. I recall the maker saying at harvest the berries were smaller than normal. That invested the wine with considerable concentration in its youth, and a fistful of authoritarian tannin too. While now an interesting complex old timer to drink, the stern tannins are winning the arm wrestle as the fruit begins to dry. It looked better in Xmas 2020 when its potency and dark fruit stood up well beside a very good 2003 Delas les Bessard Hermitage. Two years can be a long time with older wine…
  
  I still enjoyed those old Rhoney characters. 20 years age deserves our respect. But definitely time to drink up. A good match for hearty cassoulet or slow cooked brisket or middle ribs.

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  10/21/2022 - Cremuel Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Reasonably bright inky red, clear bricking evident. Heavy ‘sweaty’ red nose, a tinge of cork (which disappears), aged black cherry and damson fruit, interesting aged nose. Mature fruit and tannins are the opening notes of this wine, like a finely aged Bordeaux. There is a decent tannin, austere but clear and well positioned dark fruit, some pepperyness. A nice firm rigidity, enjoyable but a definite drink up (last bottle anyway).
  Day 2, traces of age have faded and there is a good red fruit acidity, softened by some damson black fruit sweetness, not too much just enough to balance the acidity. Still pretty good for a wine past its drinking window.

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  7/22/2022 - Cremuel Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Dark and young ruby red, dark edges but still youthful. No bricking at all. Nose is full and powerful, still exhibits some youth with a forest floor mustiness. There are dark black forest fruits and a bite of rich Rhone acidity and stewed fruits. Tasting is dry and tannic, fruit is there but hiding, the Viognier shapes it and it has grip and edge. Rigid, austere and just 'there' - nowhere near over. Red fruit acidity, damp earth and forest floor, black fruits, structure and rigidity - excellent!
  Next day with the Christmas in July turkey, has lost a bit of its brightness.Still full and rigid, and for some around the table, a little 'over'. Still good though, clearly a mature wine, and works at this level.

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  4/29/2022 - Cremuel Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Dark red with some bricking. ‘Sweaty’ nose, dark fruit, restrained mustiness but not unfresh, earthy and complex notes - interesting. Aged dark fruits on tasting, dry but balanced by the layered fruits, retains an austerity. Too much acidity at this point. Still ok but age is very evident, in two minds as to whether it has aged well or is tipping over the edge. Will try over the next day or two and see how it evolves.
  Changing my opinion on this after day 3 in a decanted bottle. It is still dry but the fruit has stepped up and into the foreground. It is dark black fruits and black cherries, the acidity is still there and has receded into the background, tannins are also there but nicely tempered. The remainder on day 4 is equally as good, still upright and firm and full flavoured. Hasn’t lost any verve. Good now, perhaps would have been finer a few years ago? Have a couple more bottles so need to drink these soon.

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  6/24/2021 - Isaac L Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Agree with Deverett's notes as well as Salua's from Mar 2020. Resolved and seamless while also displaying the warmth of the vintage. Cork was in perfect condition. My personal ranking of the vintages I've had to date: '08, '13, '18, '03, '04, '02, '05, '12, '15, '17, '10
  
  An excellent showing but not much upside from here. Drink now.

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