2023 Hilltops Shiraz, Clonakilla

• Style: Cool-climate Shiraz, structured & food-friendly
• Taste: Dark cherry, blackberry, black pepper, fine-grained tannin
• Food: BBQ & grilled beef, braised stews, aged cheese, roast dinners
• Occasion: Weeknight supper, Sunday lunch, cellar-worthy
• Serve: Now or hold 10 years, 13.5% ABV

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Ripe dark cherry and blackberry anchor the palate, with a savoury spine of black pepper and fine-grained tannin cutting through. Racy acidity keeps the wine fresh and food-friendly rather than heavy, while the 13.5% ABV delivers surprising refinement for something this concentrated—one of the finest expressions of Syrah & Shiraz we've sourced.

The Winery — Clonakilla

Tim Kirk has steered this storied Australian estate since 1997, building on his father Dr John Kirk's 1971 foundation in Murrumbateman, north of Canberra. Inspired by Côte-Rôtie during travels to the Rhône Valley, Tim began experimenting with small-lot Viognier additions—a signature touch that distinguishes the house style. The 2023 Hilltops selection draws from four district vineyards with deep red loam soils, fermented warm in open-top tanks and aged 11 months in mostly older French oak (just 15% new). This cool spring and long, even ripening allowed the fruit to develop its hallmark depth and balance. Today the estate produces around 12,000 cases annually, selling out year after year.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This wine thrives alongside grilled beef, barbecued ribs, peppercorn-crusted burgers, and braised casseroles—equally at home with roast dinners and aged hard cheeses like Parmesan or Gouda. Open now for immediate pleasure, or cellar confidently for up to a decade. A rare balance of ripe concentration and refreshing acidity makes it the perfect companion for weeknight suppers and Sunday lunches alike. Explore the rest of our Full Bodied Red Wine selection to discover more from this remarkable region.