Scores

93+/100

2009 was a bit of a ripper vintage in Canberra District so the resulting O’Riada is a pleasing thing. I’d seen this wine a little way back, but had another look again tonight in the ‘piano music, meal, decant, relax, drink, drink later’ appreciation vein to ensure our dear readers that I do care what people say. Sometimes… Meanwhile, as a bit of a worshipper at the shrine of Kirk, I recall a pang of guilt at not being overly excited when I first saw this wine. But, fast forward some months, and to a chat with Bryan Martin (Mr Ravensworth/Clonakilla) regarding the O’Riada ‘reveal’ (a slight of hand that keeps the wine from looking best at the moment of initial opening) and there is great promise with the evolution in the glass.

And how right he was. The right hand man at Clonakilla didn’t use a golden tongue, he spoke with truth. Integration can take time with the crack of a screw cap and O’Riada’s bounty needs time to find a groove. That being said, it’s not the best wine in Clonakilla’s stable. The Hilltops 09 is smashing booze when considering value and the granddaddy Shiraz Viognier in 09 is again Mecca for south-of-the-equator Northern Rhone lovers. But, O’Riada has appeal. The Viognier waft doesn’t go apricot, it serves minerals and potpourri to the char, blackberries and(more...)

Mike Bennie