Clonakilla O’Riada Shiraz 2017 (Murrumbateman, NSW) "...exotic, meaty, floral..."

Sean O’Riada is one of the heroes of modern Ireland. A talented musician and composer, he is credited with taking traditional Irish music out of the kitchens and pubs of Ireland and putting it on the concert stages of the world. He died, prematurely, in 1971, the year Clonakilla was established by John Kirk. He was John’s cousin.

The 2017 vintage was built on the wettest winter and early spring that any of us can remember. The early rain turned out to be a blessing, given the warm and generally dry summer that followed.

The O’Riada is a quintessential Canberra Shiraz, fully charged with spice, floral notes and ripe red fruits.

"I hope and pray that Clonakilla O’Riada Shiraz remains at this price level. It’s not about me but: I love this wine. It’s built on acidity and spice as much as it is on fruit and tannin. It’s direct, it’s exotic, it’s meaty and floral, but it’s also laced with black cherry and fennel. It has velocity and tension. It is simply a beautiful, modern red wine in the best sense of the word(s)." 94 Points, Campbell Mattinson (Winefront)