Shiraz Viognier 2015

This is a rare beauty, to see a syrah-based wine that delivers power in such an elegant way. 2015 is a really impressive vintage for Clonakilla across the board and this, the flagship wine, is every bit as great as it should be.

“a rare beauty”

The aromatic spectrum is vast, from fine musky florals to white pepper and almost every imaginable spice, then an incredibly exuberant explosion of fruit, boysenberry, raspberry, cherries of every shade, and plums from red to blue and purple; it is full of life.

“Clonakilla’s 2015 Shiraz Viognier is their greatest wine to date.”

The palate has an incredibly deep draw, total palate saturation of ripe red cherry, raspberry and red plum flavor, chocolate and a dusting of white pepper.

The tannins radiate light and energy, bright from start to finish. Perfectly ripe, seamlessly balanced and actually very approachable.

Drink it now, but there's plenty to come in time; this will be best from 2022.

Nick Stock

Tim Kirk is continuing to refine and explore the myriad of possibilities from this great site. Increasingly turning to higher proportions of whole bunches in the fermentations, he is getting greater and greater detail in his flagship wine.

“It is a thinker's wine, it stops you, draws you in and captivates.”

Incredibly detailed and floral-scented, the sumptuous and finely poised palate is a masterpiece.

James Halliday

Great season for growing grapes if you had your ducks in a row in Canberra District. Last visit to Clonakilla I did a broad tasting of components that go into the Shiraz Viognier and I was taken back by how many parts make up the whole – it’s a very intricate wine, takes TLC of the highest order to come together.

The 2015 wine sees higher than usual whole bunch component (and it is notable, and a very good inclusion) in the ferment, with 20-30% whole bunch in each ferment. This wine is on song.

“It’s next level. It’s a new classic for Clonakilla. Glory be.”

I’m taken. Gorgeous, silky texture, a symphony of character in fragrance, game meats, herbs, red berries, clove, sweet spice. The palate is incredible – supple, pliant, long, satiny yet etched with the finest tat-work of lacy tannin.

It’s savoury, fruit driven, pure-feeling but lifted on fine spicy oak and glossy acidity. In essence, it drinks utterly superbly. It’s next level. It’s a new classic for Clonakilla. Glory be.

Mike Bennie

Aromatics are subdued, but this is clearly a riper wine than the previous vintage 2014. Fruit is very ripe but still fresh, fleshy, plump, with terrific depth.

“Superb wine. Really fine value in the fine wine context.”

The house hallmark finesse is on full display despite the evident richness and depth of concentration. Considered an ideal vintage at Clonakilla “we couldn't have asked for better weather conditions”, says David Reist, Clonakilla general manager.

This is a wine for long term cellaring even if its surprisingly approachable now, but has significantly more to offer in the future, as layers integrate and complexity unfurls. Superb wine. Really fine value in the fine wine context.

John Szabo MS – Wine Align (Canada)

I visited Tim Kirk at Clonakilla at Murrumbateman in the ACT in January and tasted eight different barrel samples of this wine.

“You didn’t have to be a genius to know it had the potential to be something special.”

With 5 per cent co-fermented viognier and 30 per cent whole bunches in the ferments, the 2015 takes Clonakilla's alluring fragrance to another level.

Aromas of Asian spices, black peppercorns, raspberry coulis and more lead on to a medium-bodied palate that's incredibly balanced and persistent. The tannins are supple, silky and long.

As good as it is now, it will only get better over the next five to 10 years - and longer.

Philip Rich, The Financial Review Magazine

Deep, bright red/purple colour; youthful and fresh and it smells likewise, with lifted spicy, floral aromatics. Stems are evident, adding to the fragrance without being domineering.

“Delicious wine already, but it has the makings of a top bottle if cellared.”

It's intense and medium to full-bodied on the palate, coating the mouth's interior with fine, soft tannins. It's beautifully balanced towards its extended finish. Delicious wine already, but it has the makings of a top bottle if cellared.

There's an amazing array of spice aromas and flavours. Lovely stuff. Ranked 1 of 23 2015 Shiraz tasted from Australia.

Huon Hooke

…the Clonakilla a new-age trend-setter of subtlety, sublime spicy aromatics and gorgeous charm.

Huon Hooke at the Real Review Classification dinner, Feb 2023

Oh my heavens! Wine of the year? Silken religion in a bottle. A one-piece of endless fragrance and delicate poise. Not a whisper of density, yet the wine will live on for over a decade.

“Oh my heavens! Wine of the year?”

Rivals Grange and Hill of Grace for the honour of Australia's greatest wine, with arguably an even better year after year track record over the past decade. Jaw dropping.

Peter Nixon – Dan Murphy’s Wine Panel