I took my first trip to Australia in 2017 when I was invited along on a tour for UK wine trade professionals, organised by Wine Australia. It was the first and only time I visited the Canberra region, and it was a strange couple of days to say the least. Most of the producers we visited were disappointingly sub-par and I could feel the morale of the group dropping. That was until we went to Clonakilla and everything changed.
Clonakilla is one of Australia’s most important family wineries, established in 1971 by the Kirk family in Murrumbateman, at the heart of the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. Best known for pioneering the shiraz-viognier style in Australia, it has become a benchmark producer for cool-climate, granite-grown wines defined by elegance, perfume and longevity. On that visit in 2017 the mood in the room changed as soon as we sniffed the first glass: the wines were pure class.
Order by midday Monday 16th March
I’m thrilled to be able to finally introduce these wines to members, almost ten years on from what remains one of the most memorable winery visits of my career. Due to their sought-after nature we haven’t been able to offer these wines to members in-bond before but thanks to ongoing discussions with the winery it’s a pleasure to be able to do so now.
The shiraz-viognier co-ferment is the wine that put Clonakilla on the map; however its sister wine, a shiraz from the nearby Hilltops region is an exceptional release and a delicious taste of this wonderful producer’s style. The cool Hilltops climate has helped to chisel a wine with elegance, great style and definition. A perfect option for short- to medium-term drinking.
For those with the patience to wait, the iconic shiraz-viognier will bring great rewards. This is an infinitely smart, intense but not heavy red, with beautiful definition and slate-like minerality. The original shiraz-viognier in Australia and a wine which has gained iconic status for good reason.
