2024 Clonakilla Ceoltoiri
2024 Clonakilla Ceoltoiri

2024 Clonakilla Ceoltoiri

95 pts
Clonakilla |Canberra |Grenache
A Southern Rhône-inspired blend from Canberra District's leading producer.
Price:
$45.00
Stock:
Sold out
Rendering loop-subscriptions

Description

"Ceoltóiri" (pronounced keel-toy-ree) is Irish for "a band of musicians," and that is exactly how Tim Kirk views this wine: a diverse ensemble of varieties playing together in perfect harmony.

The 2024 "band" is led by Mourvèdre (45%) and Grenache (26%), with Counoise, Cinsault, Shiraz and a tiny splash of Roussanne filling out the rhythm section. Sourced from the estate’s "Chateauneuf-du-Pape" block - one of the highest points on the property - the fruit was destemmed but not crushed, keeping plenty of whole berries in the ferment to preserve that signature Clonakilla lift.

The 2024 vintage was a cracker in Canberra, with warm summer days and a glorious autumn delivering fruit of rare opulence. After 12 months in older French puncheons, Tim's got himself a Grenache-based red that feels effortless.

A nose full of red and black fruits, warm earth, rose petals and a distinct "wine gum" spice. It is medium-bodied and lithe, with fine, astonishingly polished tannins. As Tim Kirk puts it, this is vibrant fruit "singing in full voice."

95+ points - "45/26/11/10/5/3% mourvèdre/grenache/counoise/cinsault/shiraz/roussanne. Quite possibly the finest Ceoltóiri, Clonakilla’s nod to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, to date. Enticing immediately with its red-purple colour. So fragrant with florals, spices galore, wine gum lollies and a touch of smoky/meatiness. It feels light and easy yet comes in at medium bodied, with lithe acidity, astonishingly fine, if plentiful, tannins and a lingering finish." - Jane Faulkner (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points - "Ceoltóiri is Irish for musicians, because apparently all the pronounceable words were already taken. More seriously, music has played a key role in the lives of the Kirk family and this wine is a nod to that. It is a blend of Grenache (26%), Mourvedre (45%), Shiraz (5%), Cinsault (10%), Counoise (11%) and Roussanne (3%), from the one acre block at the highest point on the Clonakilla estate. Needless to say, as with everything this Estate does, they have turned this rather weird blend into a superb wine and it is absolutely brilliant value. Pale crimson/russet, there are gorgeous aromas here with warm earth notes, spices, red fruits, rose petals, smoked meats, animal hides and raspberries. Seamless in structure, there is a silky texture with good focus. A wine of finesse, elegance and length through to near ethereal tannins, all backed by a fine line of acidity. Expect this to drink beautifully for the next ten to fifteen years." - Ken Gargett (Wine Pilot)

95 points - "Deep-ish red-purple; meaty and spicy aromas, a touch of smoky reduction, while the palate is intense and fine-boned with firm but beautifully sculpted tannins adding backbone. Very pinot-esque. There are red fruits, pastilles, licorice and anise flavours, masses of spices—not singularly peppery but more complex. Long carry. Lovely now and many years hence. (Grenache, mourvèdre, shiraz, cinsault, counoise & roussanne)" - Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

94 points - "Peak release, beautiful wine. Light, insistent, spicy and tannic, with overlays and underlays of florals, leaf matter, crushed spices, nuts and bell bright berried fruit, the latter of a red rather than black hue. This is lively and lovely, dark and light, its fruit displayed as a kind of awakening. Charm, loads of charm, captured beautifully." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

93 points - "‘Ceoltóiri’ is Irish for ‘musician’, a nod to the Kirk family’s love of music. A blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Shiraz, Cinsault, Counoise and a splash of Roussanne. Five spice, blueberry, lavender, wild strawberry, fig leaf, white pepper. The Grenache imprint is evident aromatically in that warm sandy earthiness, white pepper and bright red fruits. Some crushed dried violet and further earthiness with air. The palate is juicy, floral and sweet-fruited with a lovely cut of spice — blueberry, lavender, white pepper, plum, pressed flowers. There’s a vein of chalky tannin and good length and brightness through the finish. A beautifully composed blend of interest, brightness and energy." - Tom Kline (Wine Pilot)

Ceoltóiri (pronounced “keel-toy-ree”) is Irish for a band of musicians, playing together in harmony, making a complete whole. The band in 2024 is made up of Mourvedre (45%), Grenache (26%), Counoise (11%), Cinsault (10%), Shiraz (5%) and Roussanne (3%).

“Quite possibly the finest Ceoltóiri...to date” - Jane Faulkner

Our ‘Chateauneuf-du-Pape’ block is one of the higher sites on the estate and so escaped the frosts of October 2023. An average of two weeks on skins, hand plunged twice daily. The wine was run into older French puncheons post ferment where it remained for twelve months.

“Peak release, beautiful wine” - Campbell Mattinson

Good spring rain, warm summer days, cool nights and a glorious autumn delivered an extra degree of opulence in the fruit in the low yielding 2024 vintage. The fruit was destemmed, not crushed, to ensure plenty of whole berries in the ferments.

"a superb wine and it is absolutely brilliant value" - Ken Gargett

A balance of ripe red and black fruits and a hint of spice make for an elegant aroma and a generous palate.

Vibrant fruit singing in full voice here.

Tim Kirk

Price Bracket $41 to $50
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Grenache
Country Australia
Region Canberra
Australian State NSW
Feature High Score
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
Wine Pilot
The Wine Front
The Real Review
Critic Score 95
Size 750ml
Vintage 2024
Closure Screw Cap

Clonakilla

Clonakilla is one of the true icons of the Australian wine scene. Since its inception, it has been one of the leading lights of the Australian cool climate wine insurgence.

They boast one of the most collectable wines in the country in their Shiraz Viognier, a wine of outstanding quality and consistency over the last two decades. Whether Shiraz, Riesling or otherwise, every wine in the Clonakilla stable are considered amongst the benchmark examples in Canberra District.

Quite simply, Tim Kirk and his family-owned estate are one of the true gems in the Australian wine industry crown.

Tim Kirk harvesting at Clonakilla Discover Clonakilla Wines

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