2023 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier

The Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier is a wine that continues to redefine Australian Shiraz. Inspired by the greats of Côte-Rôtie, this is cool-climate winemaking at its most elegant and precise. It's a wine with a serious pedigree that Australia should be proud of.

Vintage 2023 wasn’t without its challenges—cool, wet spring conditions had the vines dragging their feet, leaving winemakers wondering if ripeness would ever come. But when it did, the fruit was harvested in pristine condition, delivering a wine that is a pure reflection of Clonakilla’s vision.

On the nose, it’s an aromatic explosion—lifted floral notes, black pepper, and that signature Viognier perfume weaving through the dark, spicy fruit. The palate is where it truly shines: fine, tightly-knit tannins, a wonderful savoury edge, and layers of blackberry, plum, and earthy complexity. It’s lithe and refined but with an underlying power that promises serious ageing potential.

This 2023 release is quintessential Clonakilla—regal, composed, and utterly captivating. If you’re already a fan, you’ll find all the hallmarks that have made this one of Australia’s most collectable wines. If you’re new to the fold, you’re in for a masterclass in how Shiraz Viognier should be done. 

98 points
"Put simply, this is one of Australia’s greatest wines, year after year, and one of only a handful that can be reliably called world class, without hesitation... Virtuoso winemaking resulting in a masterpiece."
- Ken Gargett (Wine Pilot)

98 points
"A glorious shiraz viognier of exquisite detail and harmony. Super-fine, granitic-mineral tannins trace a magnificent finish and confirm a Clonakilla for the ages. A worthy joint winner of my Shiraz of the Year."
- Tyson Stelzer

97 points
"There can be no question that Tim Kirk’s Murambateman masterwork is one of Australia’s most important wines, and this latest release builds on the legacy of previous vintages and elevates it even more."
- Nick Ryan (The Weekend Australian)

96 points
"The finesse of this release... Orchestral. Spellbinding. Itself. Abandon all resistance, ye who enter here."
- Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

96 points
"Effortless intensity and charm."
- Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

96 points
"It’s a wow!.. Has class and medium-bodied elegance to burn but with a youthful personality that just keeps on going."
- Jeni Port (Wine Pilot)