Search Results for: clonakilla

Wine review — Brindabella Hills, Clonakilla & Meeting Place

Wine review

Brindabella Hills Canberra District Sauvignon Blanc 2006 $15 It seems appropriate that Dr Roger Harris — the scientist whose CSIRO colleagues identified methoxypyrazene compounds as sauvignon blanc’s pungent flavour source — should make such a wonderful expression of it. The 2006 is just delicious – fresh and zesty with juicy, refreshing tropical-fruit flavours to enjoy … Continue reading Wine review — Brindabella Hills, Clonakilla & Meeting Place →

Tim Kirk drives Clonakilla success — how quality, persistence and pressing the flesh built a brand

People, Vineyard, Wine

We could be forgiven for thinking there were no happy stories in the wine industry. The well publicised grape surplus and a Deloitte survey indicating that forty per cent of Australia’s two thousand winemakers operate at a loss tell of the pain out there. But within our own backyard we have one example of a … Continue reading Tim Kirk drives Clonakilla success — how quality, persistence and pressing the flesh built a brand →

Clonakilla shiraz — birth of a Canberra blue chip

People, Vineyard, Wine

International and local acclaim for Clonakilla Murrumbateman Shiraz Viognier has terrific implications for the Canberra district – especially for shiraz growers in the vicinity of Murrumbatemen. The implication is that Canberra shiraz – either in tandem with the white variety viognier, or on its own – has the potential to be world class. And if … Continue reading Clonakilla shiraz — birth of a Canberra blue chip →

Good wine from Canberra’s difficult 2022 vintage

People, Vineyard, Wine

‘It was a tornado’, says winemaker Ken Helm. January’s violent hailstorm swept north from Hall, cut a swathe through Murrumbateman vineyards, then split in two near Helms Wines before heading east and west. ‘It broke steel posts, flattened vines and uprooted trees. If you’d been driving on our access road you’d have been killed’, says … Continue reading Good wine from Canberra’s difficult 2022 vintage →

Wine reviews – the high country of southern New South Wales

People, Vineyard, Wine, Wine review

The tasting notes in this post represent a wide range of wine styles from regions sprinkled along the Great Dividing Range in southern New South Wales: Tumbarumba, Orange, Gundagai, Hilltops and the Canberra District. I wrote the notes for Jugiong Wine Cellar website. The cellar (located at Jugiong, between Yass and Gundagai) lies at the centre … Continue reading Wine reviews – the high country of southern New South Wales →

Canberra cabernet wins five trophies

People, Vineyard, Wine, Wine review

Shaw Vineyard Estate Canberra District Merriman Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 $65 When Australia rode on the sheep’s back some of the finest merino wool grew on Merriman family land around Murrumbateman, New South Wales. The district remains a producer of fine wool, but shiraz now gives Murrumbateman an international reputation, earned initially by Clonakilla’s benchmark shiraz–viognier. … Continue reading Canberra cabernet wins five trophies →

Savoury reds from Ata Rangi, Coriole and Ravensworth

People, Wine, Wine review

Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Noir 2015 $75 Coriole McLaren Vale Sangiovese 2016 $27 Earlier this year I organised a masked tasting for a group at Burrawang Coastal Club on the NSW south coast. After a mood-lifting Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut we settled into dinner and a bracket of three contrasting dry rieslings – Dr Loosen … Continue reading Savoury reds from Ata Rangi, Coriole and Ravensworth →

The Canberra wine region 2017 wrap

People, Vineyard, Wine, Wine review

In 2017, Lonely Planet rated Canberra third best city in the world. But in keeping with a decidedly riesling mood enveloping the Capital’s winemakers, Gallagher Canberra Riesling 2017 topped 519 wines from seven countries in the Canberra International Riesling Challenge. Murrumbateman winemaker Ken Helm founded the challenge 17 years ago. At the time, Canberra riesling, … Continue reading The Canberra wine region 2017 wrap →

Vignettes from Canberra’s cool, wet, hot, dry, cool, wet, dry vintage

People, Vineyard, Wine

Canberra’s grape vines slept in last spring, ending a run of early starts to the growing season. Cool spring weather, rain (and resulting cold soils) retarded budburst, flowering and fruit set, setting the scene for the latest harvest in years, though not late by historical standards. At Murrumbateman on 22 March Ken Helm observed, “Picking … Continue reading Vignettes from Canberra’s cool, wet, hot, dry, cool, wet, dry vintage →