Newsletter No. 21 - AUTUMN 2009

First, an apology.
Even with wall to wall outstanding reviews I still managed to underestimate the demand for the 2007 Shiraz Viognier. Many mailing list members missed out.We released it to the mailing list on September 1. It was all gone by the end of September 2. The office was in meltdown.

If you were one of the hundreds that missed out, I apologise. If it is any consolation, I am taking steps to ensure that our good customers will be assured of allocations in the future. We are putting together a Clonakilla insiders list. If you a regular mailing list customer, you will be on it.

The good news is the 2008 Shiraz Viognier is in much better supply. We have just put the final blend together and it looks great. It will be bottled this month and released to a thirsty world on September 1. Bring on the first day of spring!

Many of you would have seen Huon Hooke’s excellent write-up of the complete Clonakilla SV vertical in the February Edition of Gourmet Traveller WINE. It is always good to see how well the older vintages are developing and how much promise the younger vintages contain. Here is how Huon saw them over lunch at Icebergs in Sydney:

1992:

…It’s a nice medium-light bodied wine with good balance… Drink up.
86 points.

1993:

…a very good, fully mature drink.
87 points.

1994:

…slightly chunky, with more grip than usual yet also richness and presence.
93 points.

1995:

…lovely complex bouquet …A superb fleshy, supple, succulent palate …Drinking beautifully and will live on.
95 points.

1996:

…a lighter wine that fails to really satisfy …enjoyable nevertheless.
88 points.

1997:

…quite intense and concentrated, with richness and density…It’s in very good condition and will be long-lived.
93 points.

1998:

Corked …but Kirk says good bottles of this are very good. (They sure are! – Kirk)

1999:

…savoury, meaty and chocolatey, too. Soft tannins. Leaner style. Has a big future.
95 points.

2000:

…soft and still has plenty of primary fruit …falls away somewhat …A racy, peppery, cool-year wine.
86 points.

2001:

…rich, concentrated and powerful …great depth and structure …Sure to have a very long-term future.
97 points.

2002:

…It’s complex and starting to show some positive development, but still very youthful.
92 points.

2003:

…The concentrated primary fruit shines out. It’s very firm, tight, youthful and vibrant.
92+ points.

2004:

…An all-round superb wine with majestically rich, powerful flavours and depth, and plenty of fine velvet tannins.
95+ points.

2005:

…loads of ripe fruit, making it suave, taut and long…excellent balance. Needs time.
96 points.

2006:

…lashings of cherry and plum and hints of chocolate, licorice, pepper and other spices…full, open palate …elegant and long.
95+ points.

2007:

…concentrated aroma of spices and dark fruit; enormously flavoursome and powerful yet delicious even at this tender age.
96 points.