The Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2024 is a from the Hilltops region near Young in New South Wales, and is made by Tim Kirk. It has dark cherry, red fruit and spice flavours, with fresh acidity and fine tannins. It is a great weekend wine that is drinking well now but can also be cellared with confidence for 10 years or more.
In the glass it first reveals dark cherry and raspberry aromas, with star anise, white pepper and dried herbs following. There is a faint hint of eucalyptus and a savoury palate, a meaty edge, but the acidity keeps it fresh.
This wine would pair well with a rich pasta sauce, a barbecue or a charcuterie board. Huon Hooke of The Real Review called it "as pitch perfect as they come".
Tim Kirk crafts it from fruit grown by the Mullany and Gleeson families near Young in New South Wales. The 2024 vintage was warm, and an October frost reduced yields at some sites.
What it tastes like
This wine has dark cherry and raspberry fruit, with mixed spice, star anise, pepper and a faint hint of eucalyptus on the nose. The aromas are rich and ripe, evidence of the warm summer.
The palate is medium to full in body, with fine tannins and bright acidity. It has a savoury, meaty edge and a finish with good length. This is a wine that balances cool-climate finesse with ripe fruit.
Style at a glance
- Body: Medium to full
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Bright
- Tannin: Fine
- Oak: French oak for 12 months, about 10% new, which adds a little spice and softness
- Style: Spiced, fresh Hilltops Shiraz
Food to enjoy this with
- Beef ragu with pappardelle or another rich pasta
- A charcuterie board with salami and cured meats
- Grilled lamb cutlets
- Barbecued sausages
- Aged cheddar
- Roast pork with fennel, where the aniseed in the dish meets the star anise in the wine
Who makes it
Clonakilla was founded by Dr John Kirk in 1971 on a farm near Murrumbateman, about 40km north of Canberra. It is named after his grandfather's farm in County Clare, Ireland. Clonakilla was the first commercial winery in the Canberra region and John's son, Tim Kirk, makes the wines.
The fruit for the Hilltops Shiraz comes from the Mullany and Gleeson families' vineyards near Young, on the south-western slopes of New South Wales. Hilltops is a wine region around Young, Harden and Boorowa.
The grapes are destemmed and fermented in open fermenters with pump-overs twice a day, and they spend 12 to 16 days on skins. The wine then ages for 12 months in French oak puncheons and barriques (large barrels), with about 10% of the oak new.
About the 2024 vintage
Clonakilla says spring rainfall was healthy in 2024, despite forecasts of an El Niño. An October frost reduced yields at some sites, which meant lower volumes but high-quality fruit. Ripening conditions were excellent through the middle and end of summer, and the wine has rich, ripe aromatics and intense fruit flavours.
When to drink it
This wine drinks well now. Clonakilla recommends cellaring it with confidence for 10 years or more.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Clonakilla |
| Wine: |
Hilltops Shiraz |
| Vintage: |
2024 |
| Variety: |
Shiraz |
| Region: |
Hilltops, New South Wales |
| Country: |
Australia |
| Alcohol: |
14.5% |
| Oak: |
French oak puncheons and barriques, about 10% new, 12 months |
| Fermentation: |
Destemmed, open fermenters, 12 to 16 days on skins |
| Closure: |
Screw cap |
| Cellaring: |
10 years or more |
Where to buy
The Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2024 is available online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. Online and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines.
Questions we are often asked
What does Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2024 taste like?
The 2024 shows dark cherry and raspberry with star anise, pepper and dried herbs. It has fine tannins, bright acidity and a savoury edge.
Where is Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz from?
The fruit comes from the Mullany and Gleeson families' vineyards in the Hilltops region near Young, New South Wales. Tim Kirk makes the wine at Clonakilla.
Is Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2024 oaked?
Yes. It ages for 12 months in French oak puncheons and barriques, and about 10% of the oak is new.
How long can Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2024 be cellared?
It drinks well now, and Clonakilla recommends cellaring it for 10 years or more.
What food goes with Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz?
Rich pasta suits it, and so do charcuterie, grilled lamb and barbecued sausages.
Where can I buy Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2024?
The Winery sells Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2024 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
