Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier Canberra – 2016

Clonakilla, based at high altitude (around 700mts) in the Canberra Highlands, is one of Australia’s cult wineries; demand for their wines vastly exceeds supply every year. 

The Shiraz Viognier is their flagship wine, a careful selection of the best of the Shiraz Viognier parcels they craft each year from their Murrumbateman vineyard.

Their 2016 was hand-picked and sorted, then co-fermented with 94% Shiraz and 6% Viognier.

“This is a shiraz viognier of the highest order, with desperate purity of white pepper, whole bunch mixed spice and plum skin, and a super fine, gravelly tannin structure of breathtaking presence yet unerring finesse. In enduring line, undeviating persistence and sheer, glorious beauty, this vintage sits confidently among the greatest syrahs on earth.” 97 points – Tyson Stelzer

“When I tasted the upcoming release of the 2016 Shiraz Viognier, I was as transfixed as  winemaker Tim Kirk had been. It’s true that I had been enraptured by the 2015 (and the ’13, the ’12, the ’09, ’08, ’07…). It is among the very greatest Australian red wines, with a character all its own.
When placed next to ’16 O’Riada, the colour seems light (though bright), but the perfumed, spicy bouquet with red flowers and fruits doesn’t prepare you for the intensity and piercing length of the beautifully balanced medium-bodied palate. This is a truly glorious wine that draws you back again and again to explore the wealth of red fruit flavours, and the majesty of its textures and flavours.” 98 points – James Halliday

“The three most important – for want of a better word – pillars of Australian shiraz are arguably Penfolds Grange, Henschke Hill of Grace and Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier, with apologies to Tyrrell’s
and Mount Pleasant, among others. Given the extraordinary run of quality of Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier over the past (nearly) 20 years it made me wonder, as I consumed a glass or two of this
soon-to-be-released 2016, just how far Clonakilla is likely to reach into the mainstream Australian psyche. Will Clonakilla SV ever reach Hill of Grace status in mainstream fame terms? On quality, it should do so. On style, I suspect not. It’s just not big and obvious enough. Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier has lost none of its charm or power over the years, but it has become a lighter, more elegant and more finely drawn wine. The subtle change is clearly evident with this 2016. For a long time we’ve played with the term Burgundian Shiraz, especially in relation to Clonakilla, but the phrase is becoming increasingly apt. This wine is light on its feet, perfumed, exotic, marshalled with fruit and spice, and tannic. It doesn’t wallop you upfront; it saves itself for the finish. It’s not an impetuous wine. There are candied notes here, dry spices, woody anise, a whisper of peppercorn. I would almost describe this wine as crisp, such is its lack of gloop, its finesse, its cleansing run of flavour-infused acidity. This release will age magnificently.” 97 Points – Campbell Mattinson