Clonakilla O’Riada Shiraz 2024
- 94
- $45
- Drink by: 2025-2035
Share
This has to be a contender for best value wine of the year and is also compelling evidence of just how good the 2024 vintage was for the Canberra region. 20% whole bunch inclusion before twelve months maturation in French oak barriques, 25% of which were new. A vibrant crimson/magenta hue, the wine is very much from the bright and lifted end of the spectrum. The nose gives us notes of cassis, chocolate, blackberries, spice and plums with excellent oak integration throughout. Seamless in structure, this is exquisitely balanced with impressive length, through to silky tannins. A ten year proposition. This is always an exciting wine but this release surely has to sit amongst the very best.
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.
