Clonakilla Pinot Noir 2016

Clonakilla is an Australian winery located in the Canberra wine region of Murrumbateman, New South Wales. The winery was founded by Dr. John Kirk AM, an Irish biochemist who immigrated to Australia from the United Kingdom in 1968 to work as a research scientist at the CSIRO. The first vintage from the region was produced in 1976, and Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier has since become one of the most iconic Australian wines. The Shiraz Viognier blend was first introduced by Clonakilla in 1992, inspired by Tim Kirk’s visit to the Rhône Valley in France. The wine is a blend of Shiraz and Viognier grapes, with the Viognier adding a floral and aromatic complexity to the wine. Clonakilla’s Shiraz Viognier has received numerous accolades, including being named Wine of the Year by James Halliday in 2010 and receiving a perfect score from Robert Parker in 2015. In addition to Shiraz Viognier, Clonakilla produces other red and white wines, including Riesling, Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery is known for its commitment to sustainable and organic farming practices and has received numerous awards for its environmental stewardship. Clonakilla is a winery with a rich history and a reputation for producing some of the best wines in Australia. Clonakilla wines are known for their elegance, balance and complexity. The winery’s signature Shiraz Viognier blend is a perfect example of this style, with the Shiraz providing structure and depth, while the Viognier adds a floral and aromatic complexity to the wine. Clonakilla’s red wines are typically medium-bodied with a bright acidity and soft tannins. They are often described as being fruit-driven, with flavors of dark berries and plums, and a subtle spiciness. The winery’s white wines, on the other hand, are crisp and refreshing with a mineral-driven character and flavors of citrus and stone fruit. Clonakilla wines are characterized by their balance and finesse. They are not overly alcoholic or extracted, and are made with a minimalist approach to winemaking. The winery’s commitment to sustainable and organic farming practices also contributes to the unique style of their wines, which are often described as having a sense of place and terroir. The Shiraz Viognier blend is a classic wine style that originated in the Rhône Valley of France and has since become popular in other wine regions around the world, particularly in Australia. The blend typically consists of Shiraz (also known as Syrah) and Viognier grapes, with the Viognier usually making up a small percentage of the blend. The addition of Viognier to Shiraz can have a significant impact on the resulting wine. Viognier is a white grape variety that is known for its floral and aromatic qualities, and when blended with Shiraz, it can add a perfume-like aroma to the wine, as well as lift the color and enliven the flavors. The Viognier also contributes a silky texture to the wine and can help to balance the tannins in the Shiraz. In Australia, the Shiraz Viognier blend has become particularly popular, with many wineries producing their own versions of the wine. The style is particularly well-suited to the warm climate of many Australian wine regions, where Shiraz is a common grape variety. The Clonakilla Pinot Noir 2016 is a labor of love, made in tiny quantities from a blend of fruit sourced from an acre of vines on the T&L block (clones 777, 115, 667, Abel, Pommard) and the old, unidentified clone planted by John Kirk at Clonakilla in 1978. This wine is a true reflection of the unique terroir of the Canberra district. On the nose, the Clonakilla Pinot Noir 2016 opens with a delicate, cherry-scented aroma, but foresty and herbal undercurrents emerge to add a savory dimension to the nose. The palate is fine, silky and deceptively gentle at first, but there’s a solid tannin structure woven through it to give power and potential longevity. Dark fruits power through the mid-palate, with firm but resolved tannins giving presence and depth of fruit, adding to its brooding intensity. The Clonakilla Pinot Noir 2016 is a wine of exceptional quality, showcasing the meticulous attention to detail and care that goes into every bottle. It is a wine that can be enjoyed now or aged for several years, as it has the potential to develop further complexity and depth with time in the bottle. The 2016 Pinot Noir is a blend of fruit from the T&L and Upton Run vineyards. It shows some stemmy notes on the nose, but they’re well-integrated into the wine’s cherry and raspberry fruit. This medium-bodied wine is silky and focused, with a crisp, refreshing finish that suggests it will age well. Give it a year or two in the cellar to knit together and drink it over the next decade or so. – Wine Advocate, 94+ Points This has a very plush, succulent and