2025 Clonakilla Viognier

96 pts
One of Australia's benchmark Viogniers, from vines John Kirk planted at Clonakilla all the way back in 1986.

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Sale price$60.00
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Description

Clonakilla has been growing Viognier since 1986, when John Kirk planted it at the estate long before the variety was fashionable in Australia. It's the same fruit that contributes to the iconic Shiraz Viognier, but the standalone bottling gives it a platform of its own.

2025 was a fine vintage in the Canberra region. Late spring rain filled the soil profile ahead of a warm, settled summer, and three parcels were harvested between late February and late March. A combination of destemmed and whole-bunch fruit, wild fermented in barrel, then an average of 10 months on lees in French oak demi-muids and puncheons.

Summer flowers, stone fruit and ginger on the nose. The palate is rich and textured, with the structure and depth to match Viognier's natural fragrance and keep it from feeling heavy.

The very top of the tree when it comes to Australian Viognier.

96 points
"Talk about having you at hello. This is a seriously good viognier. Texture, flavour, complexity; all are elite."
- Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

95 points
"Mouth-filling, opulent and textured, with a core of stone fruit and tropical fruit flavours, all underpinned by some pithy and shapely acidity"
- Aaron Brasher (The Real Review)

95 points
"This is a cracking Viognier and will provide immense pleasure over the next eight years."
- Ken Gargett (Wine Pilot

96 points - "Talk about having you at hello. This is a seriously good viognier. Texture, flavour, complexity; all are elite. Aroma explodes from the glass, fruit is concentrated, oak helps to add a plushness and then the finish just goes on and on. It tastes of stonefruit and apples, woody spice and florals but this is one of those wines were itemising the individual characters kind of misses the point. From the first taste of this wine you find yourself rushing headlong into its world." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

95 points - "Is this the most famous Viognier in Australia. Let’s say close, but the prize probably goes to the component that goes into Clonakilla’s famous Shiraz Viognier. Effectively the same thing, just used differently. Current winemaker, Tim Kirk, has provided a litany (allow me that one attempt at a religious pun and I promise never to do it again – for those unaware, Tim was once destined for a career that was decidedly more non-secular than winemaking) of fabulous wines and this sits highly amongst them. His father, John, planted Viognier at the estate in 1986, and they have a range of clones. When making this, they used a combination of destemming and whole bunches with a wild fermentation. Maturation is for eleven months on lees in the barrels used for fermentation. Early days, but 2025 is proving to be an impressive vintage for the Canberra region. Lemon/straw, there is no mistaking the variety used here. We have strong ginger, apricot skins and spicy notes, with the merest hint of oak, exquisitely integrated. There is great length here, and on the palate we see further spices and a touch of citrus. A lingering finish, everything is finely balanced and the wine is utterly delicious. This is a cracking Viognier and will provide immense pleasure over the next eight years." - Ken Gargett (Wine Pilot)

95 points - "Lifted and highly aromatic, with a drive of apricot kernel, nuts, peach juice, vanilla and white florals. Mouth-filling, opulent and textured, with a core of stone fruit and tropical fruit flavours, all underpinned by some pithy and shapely acidity, which keeps all in check. A very classy and balanced viognier." - Aaron Brasher (The Real Review)

2025 was a lovely vintage. Late spring rain filled the soil profile ahead of the glorious warm summer that followed.

Three parcels of Viognier were picked between February 25 and March 21. The juice was barrel fermented and spent an average of ten months on lees in a combination of French oak demi-muids and puncheons.

Summer flowers, stone fruits and ginger. A decadently textured wine.

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type White
Body Full Bodied
Variety Viognier
Country Australia
Region Canberra
Australian State NSW
Reviewed By Wine Pilot
The Real Review
The Wine Front
Critic Score 96
Alcohol 13.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
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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