JM 1ST APPROACH

The fruit for this wine came from the Tullymore vineyard to the east of the town of Clare itself. The vines were planted on red clay loam over limestone soils at 450 metres above sea level.

Components of the vineyard were cold soaked for 5 days and then warmed up and fermented in open-top fermenters with daily pump-overs to maximise the extraction of colour, flavour and tannins from the skins. The must was then pressed off skins and the wine transferred to new and second use French and American oak barrels for barrel maturation. Prior to blending, barrels were selected rigorously to ensure that the finished wine was made of only the highest quality components.

Vibrant deep purples and reds in the glass. Aromas show the classic Clare Cabernet characters of blackberry, plum, mulberry and violets on the nose with enticing cedary notes. The palate features mulberries and plum, blackberry and true cabernet varietal characters with well-integrated oak finishing with soft velvet tannins and mocca.

I don’t know what they’re doing at Kirrihill – but they’re not making a $20 wine. - OK, so it needs some time. The acid needs to settle, the tannin needs to relax, it all just needs to knit together some more. But the purity of fruit – blackcurrant, dust, brambly blackberries – and the firm seriousness of the finish mark it clearly as something other than a mere quaffer. A touch of chocolatey oak completes the picture. Good bones here. Rated : 92+ Points Winefront.com.au

Its a greatly compelling proposition. Single vineyard, cellar worthy, weighty flavour but not over the top. It drinks well as a smooth, fleshy, curranty young young red, but long chains of tannin and persistent dark berried flavour suggest that a stint in the cellar wil only do it good. I don't know how they keep the price so low, I really don't. Wine Companion Magazine