Ballinderry 2023

Ballinderry is Irish for ‘place of the oak’ and is named for the great oak tree planted in the top corner of the property when Clonakilla was established by John Kirk in 1971.

The 2023 vintage was the third cool growing season in a row and our latest harvest in over a decade. The spring in particular was cool and wet and the vines were slow to get going.

Thankfully the heat arrived towards the end of summer flowing into a gentle and generally sunny autumn. 

Our Cabernet family vines thrived in the cooler conditions and elevated humidity. There are beautiful fruit characters here.

A blend of Cabernet Franc (38%), Merlot (37%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (25%) from vines planted between 1971 and 1987.

Tim Kirk