2015 Clonakilla O'Riada Shiraz, Canberra District

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.

2015, Clonakilla’s 40th vintage was outstanding. Rain in early summer provided plenty of subsoil moisture, setting the perfect stage for the brilliant warm and dry late summer and autumn that followed. The O’Riada is made from fruit picked from Clonakilla’s own vineyard and other excellent sites in Murrumbateman and Hall.

It’s a quintessential Canberra Shiraz. Ripe red berries and plenty of spice.

97 pts - J. Halliday: ‘A strikingly fragrant and perfumed effort from Clonakilla, this wine captures you instantaneously. It is superbly constructed, aromatically fragrant, perfumed and darkly fruited; on the palate spice, superfine tannins and then the finish that just lingers and expands. $45/13.5%/2039’