Clonakilla Chardonnay 2022

Clonakilla is an Australian winery located in the Canberra wine region of Murrumbateman, New South Wales. The winery was founded by Dr. John Kirk AM, an Irish biochemist who immigrated to Australia from the United Kingdom in 1968 to work as a research scientist at the CSIRO. The first vintage from the region was produced in 1976, and Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier has since become one of the most iconic Australian wines. The Shiraz Viognier blend was first introduced by Clonakilla in 1992, inspired by Tim Kirk's visit to the Rhône Valley in France. The wine is a blend of Shiraz and Viognier grapes, with the Viognier adding a floral and aromatic complexity to the wine. Clonakilla's Shiraz Viognier has received numerous accolades, including being named Wine of the Year by James Halliday in 2010 and receiving a perfect score from Robert Parker in 2015. In addition to Shiraz Viognier, Clonakilla produces other red and white wines, including Riesling, Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery is known for its commitment to sustainable and organic farming practices and has received numerous awards for its environmental stewardship. Clonakilla is a winery with a rich history and a reputation for producing some of the best wines in Australia.

This Chardonnay is sourced from two of the Johansen family’s vineyards in Tumbarumba, sitting between 700 and 720 metres above sea level. From the cool 2022 vintage, a fine-boned, citrus-edged Chardonnay with subtle floral and almond meal notes. Elegant and bright with the classic Tumbarumba mineral acid backbone.

Very light, bright yellow hue, the aroma is all fruit: honeydew melon, lemon and an echo of passionfruit, the palate delicate and refined with focus and intensity, if not great complexity as yet. There is drive and tension: an understated yet intense chardonnay that is all about the fruit. Lovely now, and it will be interesting to watch it develop with a little ageing. – Huon Hooke, The Real Review

A tight, refreshing and lively style with upfront talc-like acidity and loads of tangy citrus flavours. A riff of lime and lemon, squirts of grapefruit juice and a thin spread of nutty, leesy texture. This is lovely now but a mere bud that will blossom in time. – Jane Faulkner, Halliday's Wine Companion

The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Hilltops, NSW
Vintage - 2022
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13%