{"product_id":"clonakilla-shiraz-viognier-canberra-australia-2022","title":"Clonakilla, Shiraz-Viognier, Canberra, Australia, 2022","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eClonakilla winery is a family business, established by John Kirk in 1971 when he bought a 44 acre farm near the village of Murrumbateman.  He planted a vineyard and named the property Clonakilla (‘meadow of the church’) after his grandfather’s farm in County Clare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"read-more__remainder expanded\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn produced the Canberra District’s first commercial vintage in 1976 – a Riesling Sauvignon Blanc and a Cabernet Shiraz. With the help of his sons, John completed the first winery building in 1977, a simple besser block construction. A bore was sunk in 1978 and larger plantings became feasible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom 1978 to the present the vineyard has gradually expanded with Shiraz, Riesling and Viognier making up the bulk of the vineyard which now covers 40 acres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIt has been a remarkable journey for Clonakilla. When John Kirk planted the first vines in 1971 he had no idea that his vineyard would one day be celebrated as one of the best in the country. Along the way there have been trials and tribulations as well as moments of unprecedented success.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOver time something important has become clear: Murrumbateman and Shiraz are one of those rare combinations in the world of wine that can produce something truly exciting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gdlr-core-pbf-column gdlr-core-column-30 gdlr-core-column-first\" id=\"gdlr-core-column-1241\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gdlr-core-pbf-column-content-margin gdlr-core-js\" data-decrease-height=\"140\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gdlr-core-pbf-column-content clearfix gdlr-core-js\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gdlr-core-pbf-element\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gdlr-core-text-box-item gdlr-core-item-pdlr gdlr-core-item-pdb gdlr-core-left-align\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gdlr-core-text-box-item-content\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eShiraz and Viognier\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eCanberra, South Wales, Australia\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003eWhen we had our big celebration last year to mark 50 years of Clonakilla, we arranged the Shiraz Viognier tasting into three brackets: ‘Luminous’ (the cool years), ‘Ethereal’ (moderate years) and ‘Glow’ (warm years).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne thing the tasting demonstrated was that the vineyard signature remains strong regardless of vintage weather patterns. In fact, the cool vintages, (‘luminous’ because every warming ray of light is received with gratitude), reflected the essential character of our site in a marvellously transparent way.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 2022 Shiraz Viognier is an archetypal example of a luminous vintage.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs you will see from the reviews, there is something pure and strikingly beautiful to be found in this wine that took a long and determined journey to ripeness through the cool, moist late summer and autumn of 2022.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a celebration of everything that makes this site unique and (we think) rather special.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e97 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eThe 2022 Shiraz Viognier is sensational, but that assessment isn't breaking any ground. It includes 5% Viognier co-fermented and had 20% to 35% whole bunches in the ferment. Lacy, ethereal and structural, this is equal part Boscobel rose (which, to me, smells of raspberry leaf tea and rose essence) and roasted meat juices. It is sweet and savory, spicy and svelte and peppered by layers of pastrami and roast beetroot. There are notes of earth, licorice, black tea, jasmine flowers in summer and lashings of dried exotic spices. This is affirming and good, so good. Drink it now for Pinot-esque pleasure or in 15-20 years for elegant, meaty, ethereal, fresh, complex, layered excitement. All good either way. This is one of my favorite Australian Shirazes. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e96 Points - James Suckling\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA cool, attenuated vintage that seems to possess the prerequisites for prodigious grace and long-term aging: extract, freshness and guile. All of this without an ounce of heaviness, such is the gentle mid-weighted timbre of this beautiful expression. For those seeking Barossa or Brunello, look elsewhere! But for those who seek poise, detail and mellifluous drinkability with a balletic gait, this gorgeous wine's patina of Sichuan pepper, clove, red fruits, violet, iodine and dried porcini delivers on all fronts. A supremely sophisticated wine that takes patience to unravel. Drinkable now, but best after 2027.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WINEBOW","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50399496405297,"sku":null,"price":118.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/files\/Clonakilla_Shiraz-Viognier_Canberra_Australia_2022.jpg?v=1733345600","url":"https:\/\/marchantofwine.com\/products\/clonakilla-shiraz-viognier-canberra-australia-2022","provider":"Merchant of Wine","version":"1.0","type":"link"}