Clonakilla Riesling 2024
- 94
- $40
- Drink by: 2024-2044
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When the critics get excited about Aussie Riesling, they so often neglect the gems coming from the Canberra district. A shame, as there are some real stars made here. This is a cool region and the decomposed granite is ideal for the grape. As in so many regions around the country, 2024 is proving a very fine vintage for Riesling. This wine was whole bunch pressed into tank for a thirty day cool ferment and then three months on lees. Near transparent, this offers the inevitable florals and citrus, grapefruit pith and glacéd lemons, with a fine minerally backing. Well focused, with fine, quite vibrant acidity, this has serious length. There are already early hints of the complexity to follow. A cracking example of Riesling and one has to wonder, if their Shiraz Viognier was not so famous (and so good), would this wine be the one to take the spotlight. Drink over the next twenty years if one has the patience.
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.
