{"product_id":"2022-clonakilla-canberra-district-shiraz-viognier-liberty","title":"2022 Clonakilla, Canberra District Shiraz\/Viognier - Liberty","description":"\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eClonakilla is one of Australia’s leading wine estates, with an enviable reputation for Shiraz\/Viognier. Founded by Dr John Kirk in the 1970s, the winery has, to quote Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate), “put the Canberra District on the world wine map”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eClonakilla means ‘meadow of the church’ in Gaelic and is the name of Dr John Kirk’s grandfather’s farm in County Clare, Ireland, close to where he grew up. John’s parents owned a hotel in County Clare, and as a 14-year-old, he was tasked with managing the wine cellar during school holidays. He began to read and learn about the great wine regions of Europe and became, as he put it, “a non-drinking, teenage expert.” Following scientific studies at Cambridge University and postdoctoral work at Oxford, John moved to Australia in 1968 with his young family to take up a research position in Canberra. Not long after arriving, he started researching the region in earnest. Convinced of its potential for grape growing and ignoring all those who told him Canberra was too cold for viticulture, he planted the Clonakilla vineyard at Murrumbateman in 1971, 40 kilometres north of Canberra.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eIn 1991, Tim Kirk, the fourth of John’s six sons, travelled to the Rhône Valley. There he tasted several inspirational wines, including Marcel Guigal’s single-vineyard blends. Inspired by these Côte-Rôtie wines, he began including a small amount of Viognier in the Clonakilla Shiraz from 1992. Tim took over full responsibility for winemaking at the 12-hectare family farm in 1997 and has since carved a reputation for excellence with his signature Shiraz\/Viognier blend. As Tim explains, the aim is to “give the landscape a voice”. Depending on the vintage, about 5% Viognier is co-fermented with Shiraz, using 20-30% whole-bunches, before maturing for 12 months in French oak (25% new). Both the 2022 and 2023 seasons were characteristically cool, producing classic releases of this iconic, cool-climate wine, displaying lifted aromas of red berries, cracked pepper and spice. On average, they produce about 2000 cases of Shiraz\/Viognier, which sells out quickly year after year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root accordion_paragraphSection__v26kt MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eThe ‘Hilltops’ Shiraz, made from fruit bought in from other growers, is the baby brother of the estate’s flagship wine. Forward, accessible, and superbly balanced, it is a fantastic introduction to one of Australia’s most cherished wineries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiPaper-root MuiAccordion-root accordion_accordion__I9cut Mui-expanded MuiAccordion-rounded MuiPaper-elevation1 MuiPaper-rounded\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-root MuiCollapse-entered\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-wrapperInner\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv role=\"region\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiAccordionDetails-root\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eThe fruit comes from two adjacent, family-owned vineyards just outside the village of Murrumbateman in the cool Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. Murrumbateman's elevation is 600 metres above sea level. 'Canberra District' is the official geographical indicator for the winegrowing district around Canberra, Australia's capital city. Soil here consists of sandy clay loams over a base of decomposed granite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiPaper-root MuiAccordion-root accordion_accordion__I9cut Mui-expanded MuiAccordion-rounded MuiPaper-elevation1 MuiPaper-rounded\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-root MuiCollapse-entered\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-wrapperInner\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv role=\"region\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiAccordionDetails-root\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eThe 2022 vintage was particularly cool, causing the ripening period to progress well into the autumn. The cool season and extended ripening resulted in a highlighted intensity of flavour and added a unique spicy element to the wines from this vintage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiPaper-root MuiAccordion-root accordion_accordion__I9cut Mui-expanded MuiAccordion-rounded MuiPaper-elevation1 MuiPaper-rounded\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-root MuiCollapse-entered\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiCollapse-wrapperInner\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv role=\"region\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MuiAccordionDetails-root\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1\"\u003eGrapes were harvested by hand. 25% whole bunches were used in the ferments, and all parcels were co-fermented with 5% Viognier. The wine spent four weeks on its skins. The wine was matured for 12 months in French oak, of which 25% was new, and primarily from Taransaud, with Fuailly, Francois Freres and Sirugue cooperages making up the remainder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGenerous aromas of ripe red berries, roses, violets, and layers of spice are on the nose. This wine is classically medium bodied with firm tannins framing more complex fruit flavours on the palate. It is restrained yet powerful, with superb length and texture.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Wine Tasting Adventure","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56607170199930,"sku":null,"price":86.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0527\/4297\/9770\/files\/Shiraz-ViognierstelvinNV__250x500_f0c0c0a5-d56a-4cdf-a89e-6f4a1c9f2c2b.jpg?v=1771521361","url":"https:\/\/www.wine-ta.co.uk\/products\/2022-clonakilla-canberra-district-shiraz-viognier-liberty","provider":"Wine Tasting Adventure","version":"1.0","type":"link"}