Winery & Vintage Info
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 hail storm on January 9th gave the winery plenty to worry about, reducing what was already a small crop. Mercifully, the vines recovered well. They had rain when we needed it then a brilliant ripening season marked by a run of gorgeous weather in the crucial late Summer and early Autumn. Winery Notes
"I hope and pray that Clonakilla O’Riada Shiraz remains at this price level.
It’s not about me but: I love this wine. It’s built on acidity and spice as much as it is on fruit and tannin. It’s direct, it’s exotic, it’s meaty and floral, but it’s also laced with black cherry and fennel. It has velocity and tension. It is simply a beautiful, modern red wine in the best says of the word(s)."
94 Points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, August 2018, Drink:2019 - 2026+
