Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2024
- 94
- $35
- Drink by: 2026-2036
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The fruit for this gem comes from four vineyards in the Hilltops region of New South Wales. After destemming and fermentation in open fermenters, the wine is racked to French oak puncheons and barriques, around 10% of them new, to mature for the next year. Dark garnet/red, the nose offers a range of aromas including dried herbs, red fruits, spices with a flick of white pepper, kirsch and aniseed. The palate moves more to raspberries and charcuterie. A wine of elegance and good focus with bright energy, this is quite a mouthwatering style. One glass simply demands another. Bright acidity runs the length, and freshness is an absolute highlight here. It is a wine of serious length and undoubtedly a ten year proposition. Hard to think of too many wines which would top it for value.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
