Clonakilla, Syrah, Canberra District

This is in a really good place. The nose has those floral notes of a delicate Syrah - i am thinking violets and white pepper - along with blue and black fruits. Comes across as youthful. In contrast the palate is more evolved. Beautifully balanced with fine grained tannins, integrated acidity and balanced fruit. White pepper again, clove, blackberry, strawberry compote, cedar, tertiary notes just starting to assert themselves. At least a decade more in the wine, and if you …

2006 vintage

At that mid point between settled youth and the ‘tertiary’, semi-aged stage. Faded, diffuse bricky rim, an aged patina over burgundy coloured core. Siphoned a wee dram last night to let it breathe and ease into itself. Super spicy, aromatic, perhaps a wiff reductive. Night two charcuterie prevails, red fruits, macerated cherry, a flicker of subtle herb. The palate commands our love. Silky fine, smooth and rounded - ample mid palate, true to Syrah/Shiraz’s shape. More lively strawberry, raspberry with …

2016 vintage

This is excellent. My thoughts in a previous note a few years back. And has only improved since then. Glad to have picked up a few extras.

2016 vintage

Moroccan spices, charcuterie, red roses, strawberries, plums. Great length. Drinking beautifully right now. 95

2016 vintage

A sumptuous cool-climate classic, fully developed and ready to roll. The first Cka Syrah. Easy to forget that this came off new vines, only 7-8 years old. Brick rim, dark centre with burgundy hue. Deep charcuterie, gamey nose. Spicy, smokey sandlewood overlays plum, strawberry compote. Heady aromas to sit with in your favourite chair with a good book (perhaps ‘Spinoza’s latest’ to cite Bertie Wooster, although that did take a rum turn) or to pour for friends and other undeserving …

2006 vintage

Had at byo at P&V up against at 2009 St Joseph. This was the better of the 2. Restrained, integrated fruit. Drinking very well now.

2006 vintage

Tasted beside its spiritual and flavour-wise twin, the heroic 2015 Syrah. While not identical, they share much in common stylistically. Heady perfume, warm spices and charcuterie notes, velvety mouthfeel, and length. Lots of length. The 16 seemed the slightly sweeter of the two, with strawberry emerging from the spicy, dark cherry nose, along with garrigue. It’s slightly more elegant too, beside the 15’s powerful ample shape and structure. Already velvety, the fine tannin still has a year or so to …

2016 vintage

Drunk over two days. In the sweet spot. Lifted black fruit with savoury earth tones, spices and pepper. Very good on day one. Great on day two, with less overt sweetness and even more integrated than day one. Relaxed and inviting. Medium body with very good length. Drink now but may even improve over the next 2-3 years.

2006 vintage

Red fruits, pepper, spice. Harmonious, mid-weighted palate. Mild mannered tannins bring up a long finish. Drinks so well.

2006 vintage

Simply stunning. Perfect balance, soft acidity and velvet tannins. Bursting with red fruits, pepper, spice, eucalyptus and a meaty complexity. A real standout.

2016 vintage

Just a lovely midweight complex cool climate Shiraz, I reckon about at its peak. Lots of spice, plum and soft earthiness on nose, very complex palate following the nose with wonderful depth of fruit. Great length and balance, with a very long finish. One of the top Shiraz I have had in recen years.

2006 vintage

Thought I’d mistakenly opened the SV after the first smell, extremely floral nose for a 100% Syrah/Shiraz. This has poise and power in spades. Bright red fruits sitting beneath a delicate layer of pepper and spice. Fine tannins in the mix but only in a supporting role. Amazing now as a young wine, and with plenty of upside for the future.

2016 vintage

Floral, red and black fruits, white pepper, charcuterie. Super balance here, with integrated tannins and plenty of length. Drinking very well.

2006 vintage

Profound wine that has aged beautifully. Rich but soft and billowy. Drank over two nights. Floral notes, smoked meats, sweet dark berries (blackberries and mukberrries), touch of white pepper on the nose. Subtle dark berries up front, plum sauce that crescendoes into Szechuan spice back of palate. Tannins wells integrated, velvety, powerful. Graceful length that goes on and on.

2006 vintage

Tasting notes are very similar to the last bottle. The point I would make is that on day 1 it came across as very young and still searching for meaning. However on day 2 (I know, why did I not finish on day 1?) it had integrated and softened to become an excellent wine. This is still very young. I'll wait a few more years before the next bottle.

2006 vintage

Just singing. It's a wonderful wine.

2006 vintage

Dark cherry and plum fruits, florals. Hint of pepper. Palate is medium bodied with excellent balance. Such harmony between the oak, acids and tannins. Entering a nice window now, with plenty of time left.

2006 vintage

Lovely fine tannin structure and long savoury palate. Took a little while to open up but then nice dark red fruit notes, improving in combination with food.

2006 vintage

This is a wine that is very restrained but also powerful. Plums, prunes, cloves, cedar. A very dry wine with good length. The restrained fruit balances the subtle acidity, which sits comfortably with the firm tannins. This almost becomes a great wine for me but falls just short. However there is enough vitality in this to make me think that with another 3 or so years it could achieve greatness. I look forward to my next bottle.

2006 vintage

Fragrant with dark berries and plum, dark chocolate, tar. The palate is so refined but so intense. The depth of the fruit on the plate is what I found to be most outstanding. Complexities coming through now. Very long finish. It's got it all. Lovely now, with years ahead.

2006 vintage

Burgundy deep red. Deep red berries, damson, fine black pepper, violets and a hint of tar and liquorice. Silky, intense, with a clean long finish. Blueberry, raspberry, deep rich fruit flavours. Well integrated earth and tar comes through as a darker edge more prominently on the finish. Lovely texture, very fine tannins, gorgeous drinking.

2006 vintage

Lovely lifted nose with cherry, dark chocolate, truffle and bacon. The palate is deep and silkily smooth. Exceptional length and balance.

2006 vintage

Beautiful nose of cherry, five spice, raspberry, perfumed floral notes and a slate element. The palate is superbly balanced with poise and class. Drinking brilliantly but should get even better. Amazing wine.

2006 vintage

Complex, bright nose of floral elements, five spice, chocolate and bacon fat aromas. The palate is charming and almost impossible not to love, great length and balance between oak, fruit and acid. World class and a brilliant wine.

2006 vintage

Are you sure?

Clonakilla, Syrah, Canberra District

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews