2019 Shiraz Viognier Magnum
The Shiraz Viognier is our flagship, a careful selection of the best of the Shiraz Viognier parcels we craft each year from our Murrumbateman vineyard.
“Any contemporary list of Australia’s greatest red wines must include Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier. It has few peers for elegant style, yet it has great underlying strength of character—the best of both worlds.” – Ralph Kyte-Powell
A warm growing season followed a dryer than average winter. Yields were 20% down, but what we lost in volume we gained in intensity. 77mm of rain in January and 32mm in February were a timely blessing. Come harvest time we picked some of the richest, darkest fruit we have seen at Clonakilla.
Deeply aromatic, opulent and powerfully ripe. Plush tannins and layers of dark fruit deliver a robust palate and serious cellaring potential.
6% co-fermented Viognier.
It spent 18 months in oak, rather than its usual 12. Oak’s presence in the wine is no more than usual; if anything, it simply feels more harmonious.
a wonderful release
In any case this is a wonderful release. It leaps from the glass with wonder on its lips. Plums and florals and spices and meats take a walk through a garden, woodsmoke suggested, summer alive. It’s elegant and refined and yet it’s all there, it’s all open.
elegant and refined
It gets you in the feels; it has a kind of satiny confidence, like it knows that it’s good and it knows that you’ve noticed. Fine fingers of tannin, curry leaf notes, berries.
perfect
Florals here as mentioned but maybe not as pronounced as usual, as if viognier and shiraz have become one. Still there’s nothing reserved about this wine. Nothing. It’s just all there, ready, perfect.
The loss of 2020 afforded an extra six months in barrel, and I like the way this has toned Clonakiila’s flagship.
the gravitas of the fabled label are here in full measure
Its six percent Viognier makes it more introverted, and its usual spicy exuberance more controlled. But it’s all there and set to unwind incrementally over decades. All the deep-set, dark spice, black fruits and fine mineral tannins of decomposed granite that define the gravitas of the fabled label are here in full measure.
Instantly engaging nose, this rolls out a complex fragrant offering of dried flowers, red and blue berries, spices, pepper, cocoa powder and more.
complex fragrant offering
The palate is composed of fine yet rich tannins that carry ripe red and dark cherry, blackberry and blueberry flavours. I’d give this time.
6% co-fermented Viognier
28% whole bunches
14% Alc/Vol
pH 3.55
TA 6.3 g/L
Residual sugar 0.8 g/L
Sulfur Dioxide (free) 32 mg/L