Located some 30 minutes north of Canberra in the small rural town of Murrumbateman, Clonakilla has established a status that belies its relatively small size. Inspired by the great wines of Cote Rotie of France’s Rhone Valley, Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier is widely regarded as one of Australia’s greatest red wines.

The newly released 2022 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier is a product of a cool vintage with gentle ripening progressing well into autumn. These conditions have highlighted the intensity and quality of the spice elements in the wine, while delivering another beautifully structured, poised and balanced Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier that will be welcomed by its many fans. 

“97+ Points. The 2022 Shiraz Viognier is sensational, but that assessment isn’t breaking any ground. It includes 5% Viognier co-fermented and had 20% to 35% whole bunches in the ferment. This is affirming and good, so good. Lacy, ethereal and structural, this is equal part Boscobel rose (which, to me, smells of raspberry leaf tea and rose essence) and roasted meat juices. It is sweet and savory, spicy and svelte and peppered by layers of pastrami and roast beetroot. There are notes of earth, licorice, black tea, jasmine flowers in summer and lashings of dried exotic spices. Rlegant, meaty, ethereal, fresh, complex, layered excitement. This is affirming and good, so good. Drink it now for Pinot-esque pleasure or in 15-20 years for elegant, meaty, ethereal, fresh, complex, layered excitement. All good either way. This is one of my favorite Australian Shirazes. Drinking Window: 2023 – 2042”- Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate.

“97 Points. Medium depth red-purple colour with a complex and lifted floral/ pepper/ mixed spice, graphite and violet bouquet, a trace of blueberry too, the palate intense and medium bodied, with ample fine-grained tannins and appealing balance. Seamless, harmonious wine with a lingering farewell. A wine of purity and unalloyed beauty. (5% co-fermented viognier). Drink: 2023 – 2038”- Huon Hooke, The Real Review.

“95+ Points. The cool vintage writ large, indeed. Beauty in quiet spaces. It’s a compact and fresh-feeling release, gossamer threads drawn in a complex tapestry. Perfume is pretty, rose petals, violet this year, red cherry, fresh and sour, woody spices in clove and cinnamon, a touch of alpine herb. The palate is lacy, light on and quite transparent, a touch diffuse at present, but draws on its sheath of feathery tannin to tighten nicely, let’s say fine structure, while cooler red fruit flavours, woody and smoky spices lend character gently, but with potential on show. Right now, pianissimo as they say, but wait for the crescendo to come. Tasted: Aug 23. 13% alc. $120 Screwcap Drink: 2025 – 2040+”- Mike Bennie, The Wine Front.