94 points, Australian Wine Companion, James Halliday, 27 Jul 11- Full red-purple...the bouquet is complex, with warm spices threaded through dark cherry andblackberry fruit, the medium- to full-bodied palate with ripe fruit complemented by firm tanninsand quality oak.

Intense black-red colour, this wine is loaded with ripe blackberry fruit pushed along by a late surge of blackcurrant and spice. Great now but will develop in the cellar for five to ten years to taste its full potential.

Tim Kirk runs this 18-acre family property in the rolling hills north of Canberra. Clonakilla literally means ‘meadow of the church’ and was the name of the family’s farm in County Clare. Tim’s father moved from Ireland to Canberra as a government scientist in 1968, and soon after his arrival, his scientific curiosity led him to question why vines weren’t being grown in this area. His research showed that the soil and climate seemed suited for certain varieties, so he took a punt and planted Shiraz, Viognier, Riesling and Cabernet in 1971. Today, Clonakilla is recognised as one of the leading estates in Australia.