Product Information:
Believe it or not, Viognier was the first variety that Clonakilla decided to specialise in. Back in 1986, Dr. John Kirk took on the suggestion of his son, to grow this minor, but high quality grape variety. After some research, the variety that really stuck out was Viognier. Dr. Kirk was studying wine science at Wagga at the time, and after learning the nursery had Viognier, he procured 100 small rootlings, and went ahead and planted them. Of course, we know how the story ends. Clonakilla pivoted and became known for the iconoclastic and highly collectable Shiraz Viognier. Today, the revival of Clonakilla Viognier is a nod to those pioneering days.
Featuring all the intense varietal aromas you expect, with mixed spices and stone fruits. The palate is layered and generous, delivering pure fruits, in a calm and harmonious package. Finishing with a well-judged flick of tannin that dries the finish and adds spine to the wine. A real treat now, that will certainly reward with time.
Barrel fermented with a year on lees in 600L French demi-muids, this Viognier is a powerfully aromatic, richly textured wine.
Maker:
Clonakilla is an Australian winery located in the Canberra wine region of Murrumbateman, New South Wales. The winery was founded by Dr. John Kirk AM, an Irish biochemist who immigrated to Australia from the United Kingdom in 1968 to work as a research scientist at the CSIRO. The first vintage from the region was produced in 1976, and Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier has since become one of the most iconic Australian wines. The Shiraz Viognier blend was first introduced by Clonakilla in 1992, inspired by Tim Kirk's visit to the Rhône Valley in France. The wine is a blend of Shiraz and Viognier grapes, with the Viognier adding a floral and aromatic complexity to the wine. Clonakilla's Shiraz Viognier has received numerous accolades, including being named Wine of the Year by James Halliday in 2010 and receiving a perfect score from Robert Parker in 2015. In addition to Shiraz Viognier, Clonakilla produces other red and white wines, including Riesling, Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Vineyard:
The 2023 season saw the long tail of La Nina deliver a cool, rain soaked spring and the latest vintage since 2011. Genuine summer heat finally arrived in January followed by a (mostly) sunny autumn. The warmth made all the difference.
The winery is known for its commitment to sustainable and organic farming practices and has received numerous awards for its environmental stewardship. Clonakilla is a winery with a rich history and a reputation for producing some of the best wines in Australia.
Nose - Mixed Spices, Peppermint, Nutty Oak Influence
Intense varietal aromas of mixed spices and stone fruits, with a trace of peppermint and nutty barrel influences
Palate - Rich Palate, Yellow Apples, Lemon Oil
It tastes of yellow apples and apricot kernels, lemon oil and fragrant green/dried herbs.
Finish - Tannin, Texture, Dried Herbs
Generous flavour completed by a well-judged flick of tannin that dries the finish and adds spine to the wine. Very smart viognier.
Light yellow colour; intense varietal aromas of mixed spices and stone fruits, with a trace of peppermint and nutty barrel influences. Rich palate, with fruit sweetness in the core and generous flavour completed by a well-judged flick of tannin that dries the finish and adds spine to the wine. Very smart viognier. - Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 95 Points
It’s a fine viognier. It carries more than its fair share of texture, it has the flavour to seduce, it’s lengthy and it’s lovely. It tastes of yellow apples and apricot kernels, lemon oil and fragrant green/dried herbs. It’s not a high energy wine; it feels calm, in the most positive of ways. Drinking it is a treat. - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, 93 Points
The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Viognier
Country - Australia
Region - Hilltops, NSW
Vintage - 2023
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%
