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