Description
// 25% whole bunches, 5% Viognier.
"A cooler year with a large rainfall event, over 200mm in total, at the end of February/beginning of March. The grapes held together however with careful viticulture protecting the grapes from the spread of botrytis. A long, cool, dry period followed, and the Shiraz achieved ripe flavours at lower-than-average sugars." - Clonakilla
"In some ways it’s perfect. Perfect, filligreed tannin. Perfect meaty style. Wonderful spicy aromatics. And terrific length. For overall style, deliciousness, and enjoyability it’s as good as any Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier release yet. It should also grow into itself beautifully; it has medium-weight cellarability tattooed all over it. Sleeves of black cherry and Asian spice, a torso of licorice and smoky oak. There is though a lingering sense of diluteness about the wine; it’s perfectly ripe and masterfully drawn, but the flavours are in water colours. This does not detract from the enjoyment a jot." - 94 points, Campbell Mattinson
"This 2012 is an elegant expression of Shiraz Viognier with lifted white pepper, herbs, meaty cranberry fruits, and touches of smoke. While reserved, it’s also intriguing as the flavours move from red fruits to earth and coal dust, all impressively balanced with lacy acidity before delivering a lingering finish." - 92 points, Angus Hughson
"Has the best colour of the '12 Clonakilla red wines, hardly a surprise; the bouquet is supremely fragrant, almost flowery/scented, the palate instantaneously imprinting its total harmony and balance; fruit, oak and tannins are all seamlessly interwoven, the length prodigious. Low yields were the secret." - 97 points, Halliday Wine Companion
