Clonakilla Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
Murrumbateman
Price Range at Release: $12-$19
Vintage: 1999
$ Rel: 16
Rather tart and zesty, this tangy young wine has a lightly herby and grassy aroma of gooseberries, melon and cassis backed by a touch of vanilla oak. It's forward and vibrant, long and flavoursome, although its lemony acids are just a fraction too assertive.
Last Date Tasted: 18/01/2000
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Cellar
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Drink Now
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Maybe Too Old
Winery
Clonakilla
Clonakilla has become a significant -Ę in terms of both size and quality -Ę producer in the Murrumbateman (Canberra) wine region that has pioneered the C™te-R™tie-styled expression of shiraz and viognier blend in Australia. Even while ,Clonakilla typically adds more viognier to this blend than most producers in C™te-R™tie would choose, it has certainly creating a definitive expression in the process. It's perhaps unsurprising that Clonakilla has fashioned the most serious rival to its own wine in the rather smaller production run of Syrah, a single fermenter from the property's north-east facing T and L vineyard. Made by fermenting whole berries with indigenous yeasts, it's given 15 months in small French oak (1/3 new) and typically delivers a remarkable combination of richness, structure, complexity and savoury qualities. With four exemplary first-up releases, I had to give it 5 stars! Clonakilla's exemplary Riesling -Ę typically vibrant, perfumed and pristine in its delivery of almost essential varietal flavour -Ę stamps it as one of the reasons why more riesling enthusiasts are turning to the Canberra region, itself a home of some first-rate riesling vineyards of true maturity.
If I have a concern about Clonakilla's key red wines, it's that I'm watching a trend towards the more ethereal. This is ok but for one major issue -Ę that if you reduce fruit weight and intensity, you need to back off also on the more stalky and herbal elements to avoid them dominating the wines. The wines that made Clonakilla's name were several notches more layered and packed with fruit than its contemporary releases.
Chief Executive(s):
Tim Kirk
Winemaker:
Tim Kirk, Bryan Martin
Viticulturist:
Clyde Morton
Production Dozen:
10000
Tonnes Processed:
160
White Wines
Chardonnay
No 2 Viognier
Noble Viognier
Riesling >Semillon Sauvignon Blanc >Tumbarumba Chardonnay >Viognier >Viognier Nouveau >
Address:
3 Crisps Lane , Murrumbateman , New South Wales 2582 Australia
Cellar Door Open Hours:
7 days, 11am - 5pm
Principal Wine Region:
Murrumbateman, Hilltops
Telephone:
(02) 6227 5877
Facsimile:
(02) 6227 5871
Website:
Email:
