Clonakilla O'Riada Shiraz

Sean O’Riada is one of the heroes of modern Ireland. A talented musician and composer, he is credited with taking traditional Irish music out of the kitchens and pubs of Ireland and putting it on the concert stages of the world. He died, prematurely, in 1971, the year Clonakilla was established by John Kirk. He was John’s cousin.

A warm growing season followed a dryer than average winter. Yields were 20% down, but what we lost in volume we gained in intensity. 77mm of rain in January and 32mm in February were a timely blessing. The O’Riada is a quintessential Canberra Shiraz, brilliantly opulent in 2019, charged with spice, floral notes and ripe dark berry fruit.