Doctor John Kirk planted a vineyard at Murrumbateman near Canberra in 1971. Kirk also planted a small plot of viognier in the mid 1980s, and the Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier came about in 1992 when Kirk’s fourth son, Tim Kirk, co-fermented the viognier fruit with shiraz. He also included a tiny amount of pinot noir and mataro in the early trial blend.
The inventive and original Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier takes Australian shiraz in a completely new direction. A combination of a mature vineyard site, faith in nature and near-religious winemaking philosophies has resulted in a distinctive wine of extraordinary aromatic complexity, dimension, natural balance and completeness.
99 Points James Suckling
It’s rare to see a syrah-based wine that delivers power in such an elegant way. 2015 is a really impressive vintage for Clonakilla across the board and this, the flagship wine, is every bit as great as it should be. The aromatic spectrum is vast, from fine musky florals to white pepper and almost every imaginable spice. Then there’s an incredibly exuberant explosion of fruit: boysenberries, raspberries, cherries of every shade, and plums covering everything from red to blue to purple hues; it is full of life. The palate has an incredibly deep draw, displaying a total saturation of ripe red- cherry, raspberry and red- plum flavors, chocolate and a dusting of white pepper. The tannins radiate light and energetic bright from start to finish. Perfectly ripe, seamlessly balanced and actually very approachable. Drink it now, but there’s plenty to come in time; this will be best from 2022.
98 Points Halliday Wine Companion
Tim Kirk’s Socratean dissatisfaction has led to changes in the vineyard and winery alike. One particular change is the increase in the percentage of whole bunches, resulting in even greater perfume and more texture, yet leaving the mouth fresh. Spices are embroidered on the red fruits with unequalled attention to detail. Drink by 2030.
97 Points Mike Bennie
I’m taken. Gorgeous, silky texture, a symphony of character in fragrance, game meats, herbs, red berries, clove, sweet spice. The palate is incredible – supple, pliant, long, satiny yet etched with the finest tat-work of lacy tannin. It’s savoury, fruit driven, pure-feeling but lifted on fine spicy oak and glossy acidity. In essence, it drinks utterly superbly. It’s next level. It’s a new classic for Clonakilla. Glory be.