Light garnet color. Nose is intense, with some development. Licorice, red and blue berries rather than black, earthy and peppery. Juicy sophisticated wine. medium body,present tannins but not obtrusive. Has acidity and flavour profile of a cool climate shiraz. Similar flavours to the nose with some green vegetable. Very good intensity of flavours and balanced throughout. Very good length.
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From half bottle. Gorgeous ruby red colour. Dark cherries, cloves and some other spices I can’t put my finger on right now. Palate is well rounded with a smooth finish, nothing grating at all here. Very enjoyable indeed.
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I'm intrigued; I know it is cool climate and all that but wow what a stark difference to almost any shiraz I have ever had. Definitely more down the line of a Pinot for me. However, having said that it has all the best traits of a Pinot and Shiraz. Super smooth and round mouth feel ever present, after warming to room temp and breathing in some air. Needs to be 22-24 deg C, any cooler (i.e. 18 out of the wine fridge) and the bitter stem flavours dominate. What hits you the most are the green vegetables and stems, so strong at first at front of palate. This fades to leave the fruit at the back of palate. Pinot essence but richer like a shiraz. Personally think this will sing even more after a few more years. Plenty showing now after some air, but could integrate a little more in years to come.
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Five years after vintage I’m excited to crack the first bottle of this. Past experience has taught me that opening this any earlier leads to disappointment on my part: “too young”, “needs more time” , “what a shame to have opened this too early”. Looking just gorgeous, still vibrant, ruby red. The nose confirms yes we’re now in the drinking window, I’m smelling lovely cherry and other red fruit aromas tonight. Also some exotic spices, exactly what I recall from previous vintages, just exquisite. Amazing how a single variety can have such massively different expressions depending on climate. Palate follows on from the nose as expected, well rounded and smooth, not a pebble out of place in this raked little garden. If anyone asks “What, Canberra wine, really?” then this - at least five years after vintage - is the answer. Great stuff.
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Deep ruby in the glass. Nose is a bit shy with a lot of spice coming upfront - black & white pepper, cumin & cloves. The palate is definitely too tight right now with loads of bitterness and acidity blasting through the wine. Tannins are green as well, the fruit undeveloped. I would like to revisit this in a few years, but definitely showing some fine potential. Really more of a Rhone style.
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Clonakilla Zoom tasting with Tim Kirk. Drank in Conterno Sensory. Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose medium+ intensity, with aroams of strawberries, red cherries, wite pepper, savoury soy + earth. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (13.5%), smooth medium tannins, medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of spicy stems, white pepper, strawberries, red cherries, savoury soy + earth. Sour red cherries + plums to the long finish. Very good quality. Lovely drinking Shiraz at such a great price. Rather complex too I must add. I would drink this over Barossa Shiraz any day!
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General impressions from a week ago: N. Rhône style. Very austere for Aussie. This needs more time in bottle to develop more nuance and complexity which no doubt it will do. I drank this too young but I was very curious to try it. Hold 5+ yrs. 91+
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Perfumed, rich, great depth of flavour, with its trademark layers of cool climate spice. This is a richer and deeper flavoured wine than the recent 2019 release. The finish on this stunning. I wish I had of bought more of this - a beautiful wine. Give this another 3-4 years and it will be singing.
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We are drinking a 375ml bottle but we have had a couple over the last 6 months and we have been disappointed each time. Bouquet is ok and colour very light for a Shiraz. It's the sweetness and lack of depth which disappoints. Not a wine I will be rushing to drink again. JH 97. WTF.
Appearance: medium ruby Nose: medium intensity, ginger spice, red fruits of red cherry, red currant, sour cherry, black pepper, earthiness, red roses, fennel, cedar. It’s developing. Palate: dry, medium plus acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, medium plus flavour intensity, flavours very much align with nose. The finish is medium plus. Overall, it’s a very good wine. Can drink now, but has potential for further ageing. The spicy notes of ginger and pepper are a stand out and make it really enjoyable and different. Got it on discount at AUD28. Great value for money!
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Colour - lighter purple, almost Pinot like colour, Nose- peppery, red fruits, raspberry Savoury palate, kicks in with black pepper, almost a chilli spice, cherry, lighter tannins but noticable, Lingering smooth finish Day 2 - the pepper more muted but still present, nice red fruits integrated with the peppery notes. Drinking well now,
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Cloves, mineral, raspberry, hint of vanilla, underneath the first couple of layers is a deep brooding red/purple fruit, black pepper. Strawberry, dark cherry and white pepper palate Finishes soft at first but then the tannins firm considerably with a slight sour cherry. This vintage imo has great med~long term cellaring potential, especially for the price. Needs time to unravel the layers, leave for 4+ to try the next one.
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Much better on night two and from a Shiraz/Syrah glass (night one from Riedel Burgundy- was all overt storks and spice and structure).
Medium purple red. Purple squishy fruit, reglisse (Frenchie mint liquorice), Paan Marsala spice mix from the Indian takeaway on the nose. Very pretty, exotic and deep aromas.
On entry a sour cherry flavour that I see in Mt Langi wines from the Grampians. Herbal, pepper and tart red fruit on a medium to light body chassis.
Peppery, meaty and dark cacao tannins add weight and meet acidity well through the middle. The wine finishes vital and minty and long switching it up again to black fruit through the finish. Complex and shape shifting.
So good that I bought more online while drinking it. Can’t wait for 10-15 years on this one for it to gain some weight, some leather but will be hard to keep.
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This is quite wonderful. Strawberries and white pepper, so delicate and “pretty”. If I was tasting blind, I think I would struggle to identify it as a shiraz, it’s so light in body. A great way to experience the wonders of clonakilla without breaking the bank. In my opinion, not so far behind their flagship SV and Syrah. Clearly a great vintage of this wine. I look forward to tasting again in a few years.
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Loads of white pepper when initially opened; it dominates the palate and the nose. But the bright red cherries come to the fore and ultimately lead the way here. There are dried herbs and an undercurrent of aniseed as well as a delicious flicker of vanilla cream on the finish. Light to medium bodied, tightly framed and well balanced. Drink now or wait; I suspect it has at least a decade ahead of it.
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1/29/2024 - Chekib m. Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light garnet color.
Nose is intense, with some development. Licorice, red and blue berries rather than black, earthy and peppery.
Juicy sophisticated wine. medium body,present tannins but not obtrusive. Has acidity and flavour profile of a cool climate shiraz. Similar flavours to the nose with some green vegetable. Very good intensity of flavours and balanced throughout.
Very good length.
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12/23/2023 - BigfootPMH Likes this wine: 91 Points
Absolutely perfect. Lovely fruit with secondary characteristics.
No need or hold longer.
A quality wine that shines.
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4/25/2023 - Ozsnapper Likes this wine: 95 Points
From half bottle. Gorgeous ruby red colour. Dark cherries, cloves and some other spices I can’t put my finger on right now. Palate is well rounded with a smooth finish, nothing grating at all here. Very enjoyable indeed.
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3/3/2022 - Wolffy Likes this wine: 91 Points
I'm intrigued; I know it is cool climate and all that but wow what a stark difference to almost any shiraz I have ever had. Definitely more down the line of a Pinot for me. However, having said that it has all the best traits of a Pinot and Shiraz. Super smooth and round mouth feel ever present, after warming to room temp and breathing in some air. Needs to be 22-24 deg C, any cooler (i.e. 18 out of the wine fridge) and the bitter stem flavours dominate.
What hits you the most are the green vegetables and stems, so strong at first at front of palate. This fades to leave the fruit at the back of palate. Pinot essence but richer like a shiraz.
Personally think this will sing even more after a few more years. Plenty showing now after some air, but could integrate a little more in years to come.
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1/8/2022 - Ozsnapper Likes this wine: 94 Points
Five years after vintage I’m excited to crack the first bottle of this. Past experience has taught me that opening this any earlier leads to disappointment on my part: “too young”, “needs more time” , “what a shame to have opened this too early”.
Looking just gorgeous, still vibrant, ruby red. The nose confirms yes we’re now in the drinking window, I’m smelling lovely cherry and other red fruit aromas tonight. Also some exotic spices, exactly what I recall from previous vintages, just exquisite. Amazing how a single variety can have such massively different expressions depending on climate.
Palate follows on from the nose as expected, well rounded and smooth, not a pebble out of place in this raked little garden. If anyone asks “What, Canberra wine, really?” then this - at least five years after vintage - is the answer. Great stuff.
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12/3/2021 - grapenomad wrote: 90 Points
Deep ruby in the glass. Nose is a bit shy with a lot of spice coming upfront - black & white pepper, cumin & cloves. The palate is definitely too tight right now with loads of bitterness and acidity blasting through the wine. Tannins are green as well, the fruit undeveloped. I would like to revisit this in a few years, but definitely showing some fine potential. Really more of a Rhone style.
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12/2/2021 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 92 Points
Clonakilla Zoom tasting with Tim Kirk. Drank in Conterno Sensory.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose medium+ intensity, with aroams of strawberries, red cherries, wite pepper, savoury soy + earth. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (13.5%), smooth medium tannins, medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of spicy stems, white pepper, strawberries, red cherries, savoury soy + earth. Sour red cherries + plums to the long finish.
Very good quality. Lovely drinking Shiraz at such a great price. Rather complex too I must add. I would drink this over Barossa Shiraz any day!
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9/14/2021 - ephorn Likes this wine: 91 Points
General impressions from a week ago: N. Rhône style. Very austere for Aussie. This needs more time in bottle to develop more nuance and complexity which no doubt it will do. I drank this too young but I was very curious to try it. Hold 5+ yrs. 91+
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6/20/2021 - Matt@5453 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Perfumed, rich, great depth of flavour, with its trademark layers of cool climate spice. This is a richer and deeper flavoured wine than the recent 2019 release. The finish on this stunning. I wish I had of bought more of this - a beautiful wine. Give this another 3-4 years and it will be singing.
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3/30/2021 - Stray Cat wrote: 85 Points
We are drinking a 375ml bottle but we have had a couple over the last 6 months and we have been disappointed each time. Bouquet is ok and colour very light for a Shiraz. It's the sweetness and lack of depth which disappoints. Not a wine I will be rushing to drink again. JH 97. WTF.
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1/23/2021 - Antonio Bunster Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great wine
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3/19/2020 - Jason Wu wrote: 91 Points
Appearance: medium ruby
Nose: medium intensity, ginger spice, red fruits of red cherry, red currant, sour cherry, black pepper, earthiness, red roses, fennel, cedar. It’s developing.
Palate: dry, medium plus acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, medium plus flavour intensity, flavours very much align with nose. The finish is medium plus.
Overall, it’s a very good wine. Can drink now, but has potential for further ageing. The spicy notes of ginger and pepper are a stand out and make it really enjoyable and different. Got it on discount at AUD28. Great value for money!
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12/30/2019 - JTAFcellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Colour - lighter purple, almost Pinot like colour, Nose- peppery, red fruits, raspberry
Savoury palate, kicks in with black pepper, almost a chilli spice, cherry, lighter tannins but noticable, Lingering smooth finish
Day 2 - the pepper more muted but still present, nice red fruits integrated with the peppery notes. Drinking well now,
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12/24/2019 - ShirazTrain wrote: 93 Points
Cloves, mineral, raspberry, hint of vanilla, underneath the first couple of layers is a deep brooding red/purple fruit, black pepper.
Strawberry, dark cherry and white pepper palate
Finishes soft at first but then the tannins firm considerably with a slight sour cherry.
This vintage imo has great med~long term cellaring potential, especially for the price.
Needs time to unravel the layers, leave for 4+ to try the next one.
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11/25/2019 - Bendor wrote: 87 Points
Too light and delicate for my tastes, definite quality though
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6/23/2019 - Screwcaps Likes this wine: 94 Points
Much better on night two and from a Shiraz/Syrah glass (night one from Riedel Burgundy- was all overt storks and spice and structure).
Medium purple red. Purple squishy fruit, reglisse (Frenchie mint liquorice), Paan Marsala spice mix from the Indian takeaway on the nose. Very pretty, exotic and deep aromas.
On entry a sour cherry flavour that I see in Mt Langi wines from the Grampians. Herbal, pepper and tart red fruit on a medium to light body chassis.
Peppery, meaty and dark cacao tannins add weight and meet acidity well through the middle. The wine finishes vital and minty and long switching it up again to black fruit through the finish. Complex and shape shifting.
So good that I bought more online while drinking it. Can’t wait for 10-15 years on this one for it to gain some weight, some leather but will be hard to keep.
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6/14/2019 - Raki Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is quite wonderful. Strawberries and white pepper, so delicate and “pretty”. If I was tasting blind, I think I would struggle to identify it as a shiraz, it’s so light in body. A great way to experience the wonders of clonakilla without breaking the bank. In my opinion, not so far behind their flagship SV and Syrah. Clearly a great vintage of this wine. I look forward to tasting again in a few years.
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6/10/2019 - DanielJH Likes this wine: 94 Points
Loads of white pepper when initially opened; it dominates the palate and the nose. But the bright red cherries come to the fore and ultimately lead the way here. There are dried herbs and an undercurrent of aniseed as well as a delicious flicker of vanilla cream on the finish. Light to medium bodied, tightly framed and well balanced. Drink now or wait; I suspect it has at least a decade ahead of it.
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