Beautiful and complex bouquet with sweet spices, dark berries, some rustic flavors and white pepper and beautifully dosed oak. On the palate cedar, minerals and dark berries. Good acidity and round tannin with still a good bite. Fantastic and beautiful, complex wine in the beginning of its maturity stage.
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Poured this blind to the better half who thought (a young) either Australian Shiraz or Bordeaux.
For me the real winner was the smell: lifting floral aromas, a bit of fairy floss & that clonakilla red-berry-goodness. I expected a bit more on the palate which was just a bit flat (rather than lively). Retains the mouth filling meaty-ness / boldness it had as a young wine. On the finish the red fruits really come through on the palate - raspberry / boysenberry etc.
Not a ‘wow’ wine in comparison to the heights Clonakilla can reach but complete enough & a serviceable junior brother to the Grand Vin.
Thinned out a bit on the second day. Will probably peak in about five years, unfortunately this was my last bottle.
92/93 ish.
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Classic syrah nose of red meat juice, savory and yeasty nuance. Great balance, mid palate. Acidity is medium plus but the fruit can handle it. This was decanted for 2 hrs. Drinking great now but could develop further with bottle age.
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A fave from the get go. Ravishing now, with time ahead (if you’re a cool climate/Rhone Shiraz nerd, as yee should be).
Exotic spices galore on the nose. Cracked pepper (green or pink - take your pick), cumin, alpine gum (who can say?!), leaf litter even, standard charcuterie, raspberries and dark plums stand in attendance at the wings, biding their time, knowing their turn will come.
The palate’s more fused. Raspberry, cherry and a parade of spices march past in a fresh, bouncy palate. The acid’s still tooting it’s trumpet but that helps keep it all fresh and food friendly, and time will see it retreat discreetly into the background. Delicious now, with a tasty gamey tone, but another five years will see it all come together.
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2019 I wrote: (90++ p) "Interesting mix of Aussie Shiraz and French CdR characteristics. Dark berries, pepper, herbs, oak; huge potential. However, the acidity was somewhat too harsh, I guess it will wear off during cellaring."
2020 I wrote: (92p) "Now, more than 1 year later and after 2h decanting, I like it better. Less acidity, which is now also better integrated. Beautiful integrated palate of black cherries, spices and oak."
Now in 2021: (93p) Developed nicely and it might even further improve with age. Much more CdR than Aussie Shiraz this time. Oak notes felt more subtle.
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A class act from clonakilla, especially considering it’s their mid range offering. It relies on finesse rather than power. Probably in a bit of no mans land at this stage of development to be honest, I would hold a bit longer to see how it goes. Still, a most enjoyable wine
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After 6 years still stunning dark fruit flavors with more length and softer aftertaste. Could last a few more years but perfect drinking now. One of the best value Shiraz's in Australia.
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Deep red. Spicey, ripe shiraz. Shows the "tea leaf" area character. Palate is distracted/dominated by the same flavour character I identified in Doug Neal's new Alta Terra wines that hail from Mururmbateman. I struggle to describe it. Perhaps it is the tannins are more like black tea tannins, combined with overripe fruit. Does it get too hot there? I discussed this with Dough Neal, who observed it's probably no hotter than Giaconda at Beechworth. I cannot say what it is, but I identified this 25 years ago and I bought two bottles of the Clonakilla 4 years ago, given the rave reviews of the year, to revisit my assessment, and Alta Terra out of respect for Doug. My modern assessment is the same. So, Jeremy, if you read this, I stick with what you pilloried me for in your first words ever spoken to me. Based on these two examples, it's an area character and I simply don't like it and I will return to my 25yo avoidance of wines from the Canberra region. Foe perspective, I have drunk shiraz from most if not all areas where it is grown in Australia, NZ and the Northern Rhone and I am very happy to have a great many of them in my cellar. And no others have this character.
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Wonderful bottle that keeps evolving after opening. Opens really cool climate, but so perfumed. An expensive male perfume this is, with tons of herbal and sandalwood tones. Intensity without weight. Fleshes out and potentially even better tasting the next day (kept at 12c overnight). A real beauty and stand out value around 33 EUR.
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In 2019 I wrote: "Interesting mix of Aussie Shiraz and French CdR characteristics. Dark berries, pepper, herbs, oak; huge potential. However, the acidity was somewhat too harsh, I guess it will wear off during cellaring."
Now, more than 1 year later and after 2h decanting, I like it better. Less acidity, which is now also better integrated. Beautiful integrated palate of black cherries, spices and oak.
Wine Front: 95p
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Beautiful wine. Medium bodied with impeccable palate weight. Loving the layers of spice and pepper tones, dark fruits and a hint of raspberry tartness. There is a fair bit of acidity which time should no doubt resolve, but overall a delicious wine with a long lingering finish. Sit tight for another 5-10 years. Deserves a long decant of 2-3 hours if drinking now.
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2.5h decant, probably too short as the wine improved during the evening. Interesting mix of Aussie Shiraz and French CdR characteristics. Dark berries, pepper, herbs, oak; huge potential. However, the acidity was somewhat too harsh, I guess it will wear off during cellaring.
Therefore: 90++ points
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Having had a blind tasting of the 2017 and a fine Rhone wine, where half the group thought this was the Rhone, I decided to taste the 2015. Opened for 3 hours and decanted for an hour of that. What a beautiful wine. Spice and such a long finish.
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Très beau Shiraz, assez velouté et moyennement corsé. Le vin semble assez bien équilibré, tout est en symbiose, c'est assez long mais tout en rafinement, bien.
Breathed for 2 hours. Such a good wine already. Lovely fruit coming through with supple tannin's & a hint & apple. I can see this wine developing into one of the best wines you'll ever have for under $50.
Absolutely cracking shiraz here from Clonakilla. Palate is flooded with spice, pepper, juicy blackberries and fine oak. Amazing length, depth and texture with smooth melting tannins rounding it out beautifully. Best O'Riada yet.
Great value Shiraz. Not your typical Aussie Shiraz- this one is medium bodied, and almost weightless as it dances around the tongue. Raspberry and spice. Very pleasant.
Expressive nose: dark cherry, raspberry, strawberry, floral flavours, herbal notes and some struck match in the background. The palate has smooth tannins, with a great mouthfeel, leading to a fruit dominant finish. Quick young and will develop
what a great wine spicey, herby, meaty all entwined with delicious dark berries and fleshy dark fruits. would think this will improve over the next few years as all those flavours meld together
Stunning wine. A glorious example of cool climate shiraz. Raspberries, some plums, hints of boysenberry, pepper, herbs and spice notes. Dark ruby red in colour, juicy with solid grippy tannin and a long finish. Will cellar for 10 years or more, but really opens up now with a long decant.
Delicious black and red cherry fruit encased with meaty rich white pepper.. There's also spicey cloves with cedar oak, floral violets and a slight bit of stalk bite..
The balance is first class.. Really enjoying Australian cool climate Rhone type shiraz/syrah at the moment..
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96% Shiraz 3% Grenache 1% Viognier. Clearly an expression of cool climate Shiraz but it does remind me of great Pinot Noir how it delivers power without weight. It's delicious after a decent decant. Great expression of fruit without the dominance of oak. Worth the hype.
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Appearance: medium purple, clear Nose: black fruits, some vanilla, a little spice Palate: medium+ acidity, silky tannins, surprisingly light bodied, blackberry/plum flavours, quite spicy - pepper, a touch of eucalyptus
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Drank over two days. Opened up with a wonderful bouquet of aromas. A splash of viognier perhaps? Mixed berry flavours with a touch of cherry. Bit of pepper and spice and all things nice. Great drinking now but it has all the ingredients to improve with a few extra years. I will certainly be buying a few more for the cellar.
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Outstanding. Clear, medium, ruby with legs. Clean, medium youthful nose of blackberry, dark cherry, vanilla and white pepper. Dry, medium acid, medium silky and integrated tannins, medium (+) alcohol (14.5%), medium body, medium (+) flavour intensity of blackberry, cherry, vanilla, cedar and white pepper. Long finish. Outstanding, with immaculate balance, complexity and length, so well balanced that alcohol at 14.5% was on the cusp of medium. Can drink now, for harmonious primary fruit, but will age gloriously with plenty of complexity already hinting at a myriad of potential tertiary flavours developing. Screwcap (375ml bottle).
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Took a little while to open up. Rich nose with spice and loads of fruit, soft entry with beautiful mid palate and medium body plenty of herb (presumably from whole bunch ferment?)/spice. The finish stands out - goes on forever with pepper, spice and red fruits with integrated tannins. Love it. Can imagine it will really come into its own in about 4-5 years
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12/19/2023 - Zweder Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful and complex bouquet with sweet spices, dark berries, some rustic flavors and white pepper and beautifully dosed oak. On the palate cedar, minerals and dark berries. Good acidity and round tannin with still a good bite. Fantastic and beautiful, complex wine in the beginning of its maturity stage.
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6/27/2022 - brodien wrote:
Poured this blind to the better half who thought (a young) either Australian Shiraz or Bordeaux.
For me the real winner was the smell: lifting floral aromas, a bit of fairy floss & that clonakilla red-berry-goodness. I expected a bit more on the palate which was just a bit flat (rather than lively). Retains the mouth filling meaty-ness / boldness it had as a young wine. On the finish the red fruits really come through on the palate - raspberry / boysenberry etc.
Not a ‘wow’ wine in comparison to the heights Clonakilla can reach but complete enough & a serviceable junior brother to the Grand Vin.
Thinned out a bit on the second day. Will probably peak in about five years, unfortunately this was my last bottle.
92/93 ish.
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1/17/2022 - ephorn Likes this wine: 95 Points
Classic syrah nose of red meat juice, savory and yeasty nuance. Great balance, mid palate. Acidity is medium plus but the fruit can handle it. This was decanted for 2 hrs. Drinking great now but could develop further with bottle age.
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1/16/2022 - Dr S Likes this wine: 93 Points
From a half bottle.
A fave from the get go. Ravishing now, with time ahead (if you’re a cool climate/Rhone Shiraz nerd, as yee should be).
Exotic spices galore on the nose. Cracked pepper (green or pink - take your pick), cumin, alpine gum (who can say?!), leaf litter even, standard charcuterie, raspberries and dark plums stand in attendance at the wings, biding their time, knowing their turn will come.
The palate’s more fused. Raspberry, cherry and a parade of spices march past in a fresh, bouncy palate. The acid’s still tooting it’s trumpet but that helps keep it all fresh and food friendly, and time will see it retreat discreetly into the background. Delicious now, with a tasty gamey tone, but another five years will see it all come together.
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11/14/2021 - -Tim- Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bought 5 bottles in 2018.
2019 I wrote: (90++ p)
"Interesting mix of Aussie Shiraz and French CdR characteristics. Dark berries, pepper, herbs, oak; huge potential. However, the acidity was somewhat too harsh, I guess it will wear off during cellaring."
2020 I wrote: (92p)
"Now, more than 1 year later and after 2h decanting, I like it better. Less acidity, which is now also better integrated. Beautiful integrated palate of black cherries, spices and oak."
Now in 2021: (93p)
Developed nicely and it might even further improve with age. Much more CdR than Aussie Shiraz this time. Oak notes felt more subtle.
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7/16/2021 - Raki Likes this wine: 92 Points
A class act from clonakilla, especially considering it’s their mid range offering. It relies on finesse rather than power. Probably in a bit of no mans land at this stage of development to be honest, I would hold a bit longer to see how it goes. Still, a most enjoyable wine
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5/17/2021 - Sirknip Likes this wine: 97 Points
After 6 years still stunning dark fruit flavors with more length and softer aftertaste. Could last a few more years but perfect drinking now. One of the best value Shiraz's in Australia.
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5/10/2021 - richard.presser Does not like this wine:
Deep red.
Spicey, ripe shiraz. Shows the "tea leaf" area character.
Palate is distracted/dominated by the same flavour character I identified in Doug Neal's new Alta Terra wines that hail from Mururmbateman. I struggle to describe it. Perhaps it is the tannins are more like black tea tannins, combined with overripe fruit. Does it get too hot there? I discussed this with Dough Neal, who observed it's probably no hotter than Giaconda at Beechworth.
I cannot say what it is, but I identified this 25 years ago and I bought two bottles of the Clonakilla 4 years ago, given the rave reviews of the year, to revisit my assessment, and Alta Terra out of respect for Doug. My modern assessment is the same.
So, Jeremy, if you read this, I stick with what you pilloried me for in your first words ever spoken to me. Based on these two examples, it's an area character and I simply don't like it and I will return to my 25yo avoidance of wines from the Canberra region. Foe perspective, I have drunk shiraz from most if not all areas where it is grown in Australia, NZ and the Northern Rhone and I am very happy to have a great many of them in my cellar. And no others have this character.
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12/13/2020 - Roughl Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful bottle that keeps evolving after opening. Opens really cool climate, but so perfumed. An expensive male perfume this is, with tons of herbal and sandalwood tones. Intensity without weight. Fleshes out and potentially even better tasting the next day (kept at 12c overnight). A real beauty and stand out value around 33 EUR.
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11/9/2020 - -Tim- Likes this wine: 92 Points
In 2019 I wrote:
"Interesting mix of Aussie Shiraz and French CdR characteristics. Dark berries, pepper, herbs, oak; huge potential. However, the acidity was somewhat too harsh, I guess it will wear off during cellaring."
Now, more than 1 year later and after 2h decanting, I like it better. Less acidity, which is now also better integrated. Beautiful integrated palate of black cherries, spices and oak.
Wine Front: 95p
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2/28/2020 - jmcmchi Likes this wine: 91 Points
Soft juicy acidity, nice balance of fruit and tar coming through on finish
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2/1/2020 - Matt@5453 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful wine. Medium bodied with impeccable palate weight. Loving the layers of spice and pepper tones, dark fruits and a hint of raspberry tartness. There is a fair bit of acidity which time should no doubt resolve, but overall a delicious wine with a long lingering finish. Sit tight for another 5-10 years. Deserves a long decant of 2-3 hours if drinking now.
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9/12/2019 - -Tim- Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bought 5 bottles last year.
2.5h decant, probably too short as the wine improved during the evening.
Interesting mix of Aussie Shiraz and French CdR characteristics. Dark berries, pepper, herbs, oak; huge potential. However, the acidity was somewhat too harsh, I guess it will wear off during cellaring.
Therefore: 90++ points
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6/1/2019 - bowesmana Likes this wine: 94 Points
Having had a blind tasting of the 2017 and a fine Rhone wine, where half the group thought this was the Rhone, I decided to taste the 2015. Opened for 3 hours and decanted for an hour of that. What a beautiful wine. Spice and such a long finish.
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2/26/2019 - maxima wrote: 90 Points
Très beau Shiraz, assez velouté et moyennement corsé.
Le vin semble assez bien équilibré, tout est en symbiose,
c'est assez long mais tout en rafinement, bien.
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1/2/2019 - thebatcavewines Likes this wine: 95 Points
Breathed for 2 hours. Such a good wine already. Lovely fruit coming through with supple tannin's & a hint & apple. I can see this wine developing into one of the best wines you'll ever have for under $50.
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8/12/2018 - deverett wrote: 94 Points
Absolutely cracking shiraz here from Clonakilla. Palate is flooded with spice, pepper, juicy blackberries and fine oak. Amazing length, depth and texture with smooth melting tannins rounding it out beautifully. Best O'Riada yet.
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4/7/2018 - Dom K Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great value Shiraz. Not your typical Aussie Shiraz- this one is medium bodied, and almost weightless as it dances around the tongue. Raspberry and spice. Very pleasant.
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11/26/2017 - AnonymousCoward Likes this wine: 90 Points
Expressive nose: dark cherry, raspberry, strawberry, floral flavours, herbal notes and some struck match in the background. The palate has smooth tannins, with a great mouthfeel, leading to a fruit dominant finish. Quick young and will develop
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11/13/2017 - Nicthebuilder Likes this wine: 93 Points
what a great wine
spicey, herby, meaty all entwined with delicious dark berries and fleshy dark fruits.
would think this will improve over the next few years as all those flavours meld together
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11/1/2017 - DanielJH Likes this wine: 95 Points
Stunning wine. A glorious example of cool climate shiraz. Raspberries, some plums, hints of boysenberry, pepper, herbs and spice notes. Dark ruby red in colour, juicy with solid grippy tannin and a long finish. Will cellar for 10 years or more, but really opens up now with a long decant.
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8/11/2017 - Mic Mac Likes this wine:
Very good but was expecting more from this producer in this vintage.
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7/21/2017 - chatters wrote:
Wine-Ark boys on tour 2017 - Day 1 (Canberra Districts and Beechworth): Feels riper than the hilltops on this occasion; blackberry, cream, spice and slight vanilla. Pepper and spice are a bit more dominant on the palate. Hmm. Not for me.
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5/22/2017 - Parko82 Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP, took an hour or 2 to open up..
Glossy velvety dark red with red hue.
Delicious black and red cherry fruit encased with meaty rich white pepper.. There's also spicey cloves with cedar oak, floral violets and a slight bit of stalk bite..
The balance is first class.. Really enjoying Australian cool climate Rhone type shiraz/syrah at the moment..
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5/3/2017 - Craighogan01 Likes this wine: 94 Points
96% Shiraz 3% Grenache 1% Viognier. Clearly an expression of cool climate Shiraz but it does remind me of great Pinot Noir how it delivers power without weight. It's delicious after a decent decant. Great expression of fruit without the dominance of oak. Worth the hype.
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4/1/2017 - Michael and Elizabeth Likes this wine:
Delicious, Canberra district Shiraz
Appearance: medium purple, clear
Nose: black fruits, some vanilla, a little spice
Palate: medium+ acidity, silky tannins, surprisingly light bodied, blackberry/plum flavours, quite spicy - pepper, a touch of eucalyptus
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2/26/2017 - Redback Likes this wine:
Drank over two days. Opened up with a wonderful bouquet of aromas. A splash of viognier perhaps? Mixed berry flavours with a touch of cherry. Bit of pepper and spice and all things nice. Great drinking now but it has all the ingredients to improve with a few extra years. I will certainly be buying a few more for the cellar.
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2/26/2017 - G_Talbot Likes this wine: 95 Points
Outstanding.
Clear, medium, ruby with legs.
Clean, medium youthful nose of blackberry, dark cherry, vanilla and white pepper.
Dry, medium acid, medium silky and integrated tannins, medium (+) alcohol (14.5%), medium body, medium (+) flavour intensity of blackberry, cherry, vanilla, cedar and white pepper. Long finish.
Outstanding, with immaculate balance, complexity and length, so well balanced that alcohol at 14.5% was on the cusp of medium.
Can drink now, for harmonious primary fruit, but will age gloriously with plenty of complexity already hinting at a myriad of potential tertiary flavours developing.
Screwcap (375ml bottle).
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2/10/2017 - Wall_Bangers Likes this wine:
Took a little while to open up. Rich nose with spice and loads of fruit, soft entry with beautiful mid palate and medium body plenty of herb (presumably from whole bunch ferment?)/spice. The finish stands out - goes on forever with pepper, spice and red fruits with integrated tannins. Love it. Can imagine it will really come into its own in about 4-5 years
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