97pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

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. 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. 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.

93pts James Suckling

A very delicate, diaphanous and dainty O'Riada in this cooler year. I thought it was a bit too light on my first tasting, but a revisit a day later saw it grow in stature. White peppercorn, musk, lilac, a hint of spiced salumi and redder fruits this vintage, over blue or black. Almost a wine for the Burgundy drinker, to be positive. The chiffon tannins, stretch nicely across the palate. Could use just a bit more mid-palate stuffing, to be critical.

Winemaker Notes

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.

2022 was a cool vintage with gentle ripening progressing well into autumn. The O’Riada is made from fruit picked from our estate vineyard and other fine sites in Murrumbateman and Hall. It’s a quintessential Canberra Shiraz, medium bodied with red berry and floral themes and plenty of cool-climate spice.

Blend: 95% Shiraz, 5% Viognier