Clonakilla
Canberra District Shiraz Viognier



See previous Delectable notes. The colour is dark Ruby red. Floral aromatics of violets and rose petals - a note of cracked pepper in this cooler vintage in a cooler terroir to begin with. Medium bodied with great concentration, persistence and length on the palate with red fruits, touches of meat and pepper. Gives up palate weight for those superb aromatics. My kind of wine (look at previous Delectable notes).
See previous Delectable notes. The colour is dark Ruby red. Floral aromatics of violets and rose petals - a note of cracked pepper in this cooler vintage in a cooler terroir to begin with. Medium bodied with great concentration, persistence and length on the palate with red fruits, touches of meat and pepper. Gives up palate weight for those superb aromatics. My kind of wine (look at previous Delectable notes).
Jun 29th, 2025
Mid Ruby in colour. An enticing perfume - very spicy, red florals with a little white pepper. That small percentage of Viognier contributing to the wonderful aromas. The spice/white pepper notes with diminished savoury plum mingle on the medium weight palate. From a wet year in the ACT apparently but this is still brilliant and very different to a Barossa or McLaren Vale blockbuster. This is the best Shiraz Viognier in Australia most local critics would agree. Had another bottle 143 weeks later on 17 January 2024 with notes as above. Certainly in the lighter register but with plenty of pepper and spice. So delicious that Barb and I polished off the bottle on a Wednesday night. Something we would not normally do mid week. I will have the remaining 2 in the next few years. Still 95 points.
Mid Ruby in colour. An enticing perfume - very spicy, red florals with a little white pepper. That small percentage of Viognier contributing to the wonderful aromas. The spice/white pepper notes with diminished savoury plum mingle on the medium weight palate. From a wet year in the ACT apparently but this is still brilliant and very different to a Barossa or McLaren Vale blockbuster. This is the best Shiraz Viognier in Australia most local critics would agree. Had another bottle 143 weeks later on 17 January 2024 with notes as above. Certainly in the lighter register but with plenty of pepper and spice. So delicious that Barb and I polished off the bottle on a Wednesday night. Something we would not normally do mid week. I will have the remaining 2 in the next few years. Still 95 points.
Apr 24th, 2021Absolute winner. Beautiful and delicate, perfumed and refined. Just starting to open up. One of my favourites for a good reason :)
Absolute winner. Beautiful and delicate, perfumed and refined. Just starting to open up. One of my favourites for a good reason :)
1 person found it helpfulMay 31st, 2015
Perfumed Floral Red fruits and herbs. Medium bodied with integrated tannins. One of Australia's best version of a Northern Rhone style IMO. Undertone of white pepper. Not sure how much whole bunch was used back in 2010 but for 2015 was about 20 to 30%.
Perfumed Floral Red fruits and herbs. Medium bodied with integrated tannins. One of Australia's best version of a Northern Rhone style IMO. Undertone of white pepper. Not sure how much whole bunch was used back in 2010 but for 2015 was about 20 to 30%.
Jun 11th, 2017
Funk, pine resin, layers of fruit unveiling.
Funk, pine resin, layers of fruit unveiling.
May 20th, 2015
Dry, light colour, hint of stone fruit, somewhat Pinot-like. Nice balance, slight sherry-nutty flash on end.
Dry, light colour, hint of stone fruit, somewhat Pinot-like. Nice balance, slight sherry-nutty flash on end.
Oct 5th, 2020