Winemaker Notes
The O’Riada is a quintessential Canberra Shiraz, fully charged with spice, floral notes and ripe red fruits.
Clonakilla O’Riada Shiraz pairs effortlessly with grilled New York strip steak, beef wellington, or a savory pork roast.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 O’Riada Shiraz is perfumed and floral right out of the blocks: rose petals, petrichor, a drift of arnica/licorice, white chocolate and sweet tobacco. The wine is attractive and perfumed in the mouth as well, and the tannins are finely wrought. The wine finishes with a slight inflection of dried mint, but this is a gorgeous thing and comes highly recommended. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
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James Suckling
Fragrant, perfumed and vibrant, with aromas of red cherries, cured meat, pencil shavings, raspberries, white pepper, violets, dried herbs and sandalwood. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, powdery tannins and bright acidity, offering a supple, fresh mouthfeel with a long, spice-driven finish. Pure and energetic.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
A picturesque region brimming with energetic producers, Canberra’s boutique wineries are set among a backdrop of the Snowy Mountains. Similar to its northern neighbors of Hilltops and Orange, Canberra has an extreme continental climate with a hot, dry growing season and cold winters. The region produces outstanding Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Pinot Noir and is under a new wave of innovative young winemakers unafraid to explore alternative varieties.