Maybe the best chard I have had, jumps out of the glass, aromatic and on the palate quite smooth and silky but still got enough acidity to balance it out. Honeysuckle, melon and some peaches. Really lovely — 2 months ago
Really smooth. A lot more dark plums, and softer tannins. Earthiness, small amount of spice and looong aftertaste — 2 months ago
Clonakilla O’Riada Shiraz 2023
Canberra District, Australia 🇦🇺
Overview
A cool-climate Shiraz sourced from Clonakilla’s estate vineyards and selected sites in Murrumbateman and Hall, delivering a layered, elegant, and highly approachable expression of Canberra District Syrah. Rather than power and heat, this wine emphasizes aromatic lift, red-fruit purity, and graceful structure, shaped by the region’s clay-driven soils and precise ripening conditions.
Aromas & Flavors
Highly perfumed aromatics jump from the glass with vibrant red berries, cranberry, fresh plum skin, and subtle floral tones. The palate mirrors the nose beautifully, offering juicy red cherry, gentle spice, and soft earthy undertones with excellent clarity and progression. Everything feels expressive yet controlled, with freshness driving the overall balance.
Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, silky, and energetic. The texture is smooth and polished with fine tannins and lively acidity, giving the wine a graceful flow across the palate. Approachable and effortless to drink without sacrificing depth or finesse.
Food Pairings
Grilled lamb chops with herbs. Roast chicken with mushroom jus. Charcuterie and soft aged cheeses. Duck breast with cherry reduction. Mediterranean vegetable dishes.
Verdict
A refined, cool-climate Shiraz that feels more about elegance than intensity. Perfumed, vibrant, and beautifully composed, this is a wine that delivers complexity without heaviness, polished, expressive, and quietly impressive.
Did You Know?
Canberra District sits at higher elevation with cooler nights than many Australian regions, preserving acidity and aromatic freshness in Shiraz. Clay-based soils help regulate water stress and promote slow, even ripening, contributing to purity and balance rather than overt ripeness.
🍷 Personal Pick
I love when a wine smells exactly like it tastes — this one delivers pure harmony between nose and palate. Youthful, vibrant, impossible to stop at one glass, and deceptively elegant. A dangerous crowd-pleaser with real finesse. — 4 months ago
Mega earthy — 15 days ago
Still fresh and fruity with with typical, complex maturity flavours. — a month ago
Needed some time to open up, but was worth it. Silky smooth, lots of presence and subtle earth notes. Really long finish and super smooth once again — 2 months ago
Crisp! Some acidity but not hateful, green apple and some grapefruit. Sadly purchased on close out, hope I can find again. — 3 months ago
Hopefully Delectable will allow me to write a complete note. Here we go ….
Dark Ruby with a crimson rim. Closed on the nose initially. Straight from the bottle - should have decanted it. Rich on the palate. Latent power with much to give. Dark cherry with dried herbs still to come with further cellaring. This is the first of 5 bottles. In the early days Block 3 was the undisputed best Pinot in NZ but now Block 5 is considered along with other contenders from around NZ. Have the next one in a year. Many good judges think this is the best ever Block 3 up to this point. — 2 months ago

Andrea Watt
Quite good with toffee, apricot, honey, almond, and marmalade. — 10 hours ago