Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier Canberra – 2019

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.

In 2019, a warm growing season followed a drier than average winter. Yields were 20% down, but what was lost in volume was gained in intensity. 77mm of rain in January and 32mm in February were a timely blessing. Come harvest time the winery picked some of the richest, darkest fruit ever seen at Clonakilla.

This 2019 Shiraz Viognier is deeply aromatic, opulent and powerfully ripe. Plush tannins and layers of dark fruit deliver a robust palate and serious cellaring potential. It is a blend of 94% Shiraz and 6% co-fermented Viognier.

“A special occasion to celebrate? May I point you in the direction of the opulent new-release Clonakilla 2019 Shiraz Viognier, a benchmark Australian red blend of red and white grapes (94% shiraz and 6% viognier c-fermented). Winemaker Tim Kirk says yields were down 20% but he cannot recall many vintages with more power and intensity.

This is powerful, dark, plush and cellarworthy. Clonakilla is a small, family business at Murrumbateman, outside Canberra, that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Buy a bottle and raise a toast to this Rhone-influenced standout.” Winsor Dobbin (Australian journalist).