Wine authority James Halliday has awarded Canberra's Clonakilla winery a record score for its 2013 shiraz viognier - 98 points out of 100, which winemaker Tim Kirk said was the highest given to a new release vintage.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The news came on Tuesday at the James Halliday and Wine Companion awards.
"Up to the last year or so the highest mark that James has ever given to a new release wine ... was 97. We’ve scored 97 points a couple of times and to break that record and move to a new echelon, once again confirms the Canberra shiraz is up there with the big boys," he said.
Mr Kirk said the new shiraz viognier was the product of "miraculous" conditions in the vineyards this year.
"It really is a fantastic vintage and we’ve been quietly excited since we saw the grapes coming in. Coming off the back of three more challenging vintages - we had very cold and very wet weather - 2013 seemed miraculous," he said. "[It was] a return to the glory days of the noughties with the warm sunny days in autumn, rain at key points just when we needed, and a good size crop."
He described the 2013 shiraz viognier as having beautiful flavours and complex perfumes. "Beautiful red berry fruits mingling with the natural spiciness of the shiraz and perfect tannins," he said.
Mr Kirk said Canberra's shirazes were already creating waves in the wine world this year. "For Clonakilla to pull off this 98 out of a 100 from Halliday, it shows that Canberra shiraz is just being seen as one of the greatest expressions of shiraz in this country," he said.
This is proving to be a golden vintage for Canberra's winemakers. Nick O'Leary recently took home three trophies from the Brisbane Royal Show, including the Stodart Trophy, traditionally awarded to the best table red, for his 2013 shiraz.
The news of the high score for the Clonakilla shiraz viognier will only boost already high demand for the wine, which is released on September 2 and usually sells out quickly, with pre-orders flooding in on the winery website and at the cellar door.
