Bob McDonald

9.5

A gorgeous nose from the inclusion of Viognier- Violets and spices ( cinnamon and cloves). Any waiting to submit? I can continue! On the medium bodied palate there is white pepper together with red fruits and the spices mentioned earlier on the nose. Probably Australia’s best Shiraz Viognier - up there with Serrat. See previous Delectable notes - my last bottle of the 2010. — a month ago

Flinders Doyle

10

Nice toasty sparkling. One of my favorites — 9 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

A Collection of great Australian Reds - Christmas break up of the Tennis Group. This or the Wynns Centenary would have been the WOTN. A Delicious balanced mature claret showing leather spice with noticeable mocha , like coffee grounds. Cruising at 32 years and will sit on the plateau for a while yet. The Reserve was the forerunner to what Yalumba now call The Caley which is now their flagship. A top shelf Cabernet Shiraz from a great vintage utilising Yalumba’s extensive vineyard resources. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Pale Lemon in colour. White peach notes on nose and palate along with herbal and Lime notes - a little grapefruit. Overall the impression of ripe grapes in a really good season gives one the impression of almost off dry but it is dry. Not as much tension as a few years ago - this being my last bottle. At its peak if you like mature Riesling with a swipe of cleansing acidity to finish off. Again, little or no kerosene or petrol notes which I am starting to believe is a wine fault and the subject of sunburnt grapes as Canberra Riesling producer Ken Helm once told me. 3 Trophies and many Gold Medals on the Show Circuit. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Aromas of plum, tobacco and pencil shavings with a leafy dusty note. On the palate silky smooth filling every corner of the mouth. Great texture and balance with fully resolved soft tannins. Once it warmed up (from a 10 degree Celsius cellar) and time in decanter it became a very presentable Merlot. Traces of violets after a few hours. We do some excellent Cabernet Merlot in this country but very little straight Merlot. This is from the Canberra District. — 7 years ago

Ezza Kimberley

9.1

Beautiful smooth and full bodied Shiraz. This gem is a small batch vino with class and elegance. Notes of raspberry and cherry join with hints of white pepper and the soft tannins make this drop very quaffable indeed. — 8 years ago

with Daniel

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

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. — 5 months ago

Helen Arvanitopoulos

9.3

A beautiful Canberra Shiraz I had with an amazing T Bone steak up in the blue mountains in front of an open fireplace. Beyond. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Ravensworth is the private venture of Bryan Martin who is the winemaker together with Tim Kirk, at the nearby and famous Clonakilla - arguably the benchmark for Shiraz Viognier in Australia. Wonderful spicy scents together with a floral note from the Viognier. Medium weight with meaty, savoury spicy flavours on the palate. My kind of Shiraz blend and in the frame of Clonakilla with better QPR. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Mid Ruby turning tawny. Spicy perfume, a hint of violet, and with time notes of Rhubarb. On the palate easy power and intensity with red cherry and plum flavours. I have always enjoyed this Pinot Noir from when I first tasted it at a restaurant in Canberra 7 or so years ago. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Love these cool climate Shirazes from Canberra District. A riot of white pepper and spice. Medium bodied with earthy minerality with some charcuterie notes. Short term cellaring from this point. Took a bottle to the UK 23 weeks later on 26th July 2019 and had it with chicken at sister Helen and Nick’s place. Consistent tasting notes as above. — 7 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.0

Friday options.
I missed the mark of Canberra District.
A ripe showing for the region. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Found this in a forgotten corner of my cellar. For an entry level red which cost about $25 I wondered how it would be holding up at 14 years - particularly when the label says “would benefit from 4 to 8 years in a cool cellar””. It was a marvellous cool climate Shiraz showing plum and pepper with silky tannins. Sometimes I think Producers underestimate the cellaring potential because they want you to buy the current vintage and not cellar the earlier vintages for 15 years plus. A great effort for the price. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

See several previous Delectable notes for this wine. This is my last bottle. A lovely mature Riesling developing Kerosene and toasty honey notes. The Canberra district is an ideal district for quality Riesling with neighbours Helm, also a reliable excellent producer. This wine won best Canberra Riesling, Best Riesling, Best White, and Champion Wine of the Show at the Canberra Regional Wine Show. A full house of Trophies! — 9 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Mid straw yellow in colour. After 10 years still no sign of TDN. Aromas of lime and talc. Ken Helm of Helm wines in the Canberra district would say these are well handled Riesling grapes from a cool growing season where no petro chemical notes have developed. He believes kero/petrol aromas are a wine fault and caused by sunburnt grapes. On the palate lime flavours, a touch of honey and finishes with a slight saline note. Fresh and crisp even in its old age. Proves again that the Clare Valley is perfect for Riesling. Delectable: Taylor’s is the producer. — 9 months ago

Travis W

9.0

Top shelf Riesling. Aging beautifully. Drank over two days. Love aged Canberra district Riesling. Generally I've found that they need at least a decade to integrate. Balance of citrus fruits and talc. So different from Eden and Clare. This will go another decade easily. — 4 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.2

Killer Chardonnay. We have been seeing some great gear across the tasting bench of late. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Continuing my theme of Australian cool climate Shiraz - this from the Canberra District. Considered by many to be as good as Clonakilla’s flagship Shiraz Viognier. Nose of pepper and spice with red fruits. On the palate cherry and spice with earthy mineral notes finishing with persistent fine Tannins. A very good cool climate Australian Shiraz in the mould of a Saint Joseph or Cote Rotie. NB Delectable this is Clonakilla Syrah. Not offered in your choices. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Dark crimson in colour. Notes of cedar, cigar box, mulberry and blackberry but not too much of the latter. Tannins resolved. The wine is in a good place at 13 years and my last bottle. Great value at around $30. A good example of continental Cabernet from the Canberra district. Pretty much equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Clonakilla better known these days for its stellar Shiraz Viognier. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Typical Shiraz/Viognier Blend of the Canberra District without the oomph of the benchmark Clonakilla. Strong white pepper and brambley notes. Pepper and Spice on the medium weight palate. Good drinking and may be peak drinking at 5 years of age. Like this style a lot. — 8 years ago