Heavenly Clare Valley reds and riesling from Kilikanoon, Pikes, Sevenhill and Logan

When it comes to the creation of wine, this famous region has God on its side. Here’s a line-up of divine wines from two brilliant vintages.

This week’s Wine Club offering, all from the Clare Valley.

Having been baptised and confirmed a good Lutheran, I’ve always understood that wine is the drink of choice in heaven. Another article of faith is that when it comes to the creation of wine on Earth, Clare Valley has been given a heavenly edge.

Rich, fertile soils; warm days and cool nights; pretty hillsides with differing micro-climates: these are the divine ingredients that help Clare’s winemakers deliver some of the world’s greatest riesling and elegant shiraz and cabernet.

It was people of faith, the Jesuits, who seeded Clare’s wine future, planting the region’s first vines soon after arriving in 1851 and quickly developing Sevenhill Cellars to make sacramental wine. Regarded today as one of Australia’s historical treasures, Sevenhill is still owned by the Jesuits, who draw from some of the oldest vineyards in Clare to create high-quality, estate wines that win praise from critics and wine drinkers – for example, the Inigo Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, below. (I’m told Sevenhill’s sacramental wine also remains a force to be reckoned with!)

Clare is also home to some of the most worshipped names in Australian wine: from Polish Hill riesling prince Jeffrey Grosset to the enduring excellence of Jim Barry’s clan and the brilliantly traditional Wendouree, not to mention Kevin Mitchell’s highly prized Kilikanoon and the pioneering power of the Pikes. “Clare has always been a wonderful place to make wine because in a quite small area we have such diversity,’’ says Mitchell, who grew up in Clare, the son of a grape grower. “There’s a 300-metre difference in altitude between different winegrowing areas and different terroir across the three valleys in Clare. As a winemaker, you can dial it up to whatever you want it to be.”

The Australian Wine Club this week shines a light on the godly creations of Clare – offered at some of the best prices on Earth. (See two mixed-dozen deals below.)

Pikes The Assemblage Shiraz Mourvedre Grenache 2018

From one of the pioneering families of the Australian beverage scene comes this plush northern Rhone-style blend that strikes that sought-after balance between sweet and savoury. The Pike family’s estate is about 100ha of gently rolling slopes at Polish Hill River. Grenache brings soft blueberry, mulberry and plum aromatics, while shiraz delivers a powerful yet soft mid-palate, before the savoury five-spice of mourvedre rounds out a truly delicious wine from Clare’s standout 2018 vintage. James Halliday’s team handed out its “special value” red star and 92 points. 14% alc RRP $26 a bottle SPECIAL $22.99 in straight dozen

 

Kilikanoon Settlement Block Shiraz 2018

Award-winning winemaker Kevin Mitchell has delivered to our club this exclusive wine, named after the nationwide soldier settlement scheme, mainly after World War II. These small blocks, given to returning soldiers in recognition of their service, often ended up being turned into vineyards in Clare Valley. This shiraz is sourced from blocks around Leasingham and showcases what Mitchell says is the “thumbprint of Kilikanoon shiraz – exceptional power, elegance and length”. It is the divinity of Clare shiraz in general that such intense flavours can be carried with medium palate weight, giving the wine lover the pleasure of power without heaviness. More European sportscar than American muscle. 14.5% alc RRP $42 a bottle SPECIAL $24.99 in straight dozen

Sevenhill Inigo Cabernet Sauvignon Clare Valley 2018

Again from the brilliant 2018 vintage for reds, Clare’s Jesuit winemaking fraternity, led by Brother John May, have created a signature cabernet at a truly charitable price - even before our club discount! Intense cassis and mulberry flavours sing, with the backing of spearmint, juniper berry and spicy notes. The Inigo range honours St Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits in the Basque region of Spain. Praise from Team Halliday with 90 points. 14.5% alc RRP $28 a bottle SPECIAL $21.99 in straight dozen

Love & Valour Clare Valley Riesling 2021

We couldn’t celebrate Clare without a sublime riesling. Select a mixed dozen of our 2018 reds or combine three bottles of each red with three bottles of riesling. The Logans used to source their riesling from Mount Canobolas in Orange until the 2020 bushfires prompted them to seek the wonders of Clare fruit. As I took in the aromas of this wine, I remembered what James Halliday told us a few weeks back: wines from the 2021 vintage are “celestial”. You’ll fall for the delicate white spring flowers on the nose, leading you to thirst-quenching lemon and grapefruit flavours that linger well into the afternoon. Love, indeed! 12% alc RRP $24 a bottle SPECIAL $16.99 in straight dozen

MIXED REDS DOZEN Four bottles of the three reds above $19.99 a bottle

MIXED RED/WHITE DOZEN Three bottles of each wine above $18.99 a bottle

Order online or telephone [phone] Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm AEST. Deals only available while stocks last. The Australian Wine Club is a commercial partnership with Laithwaite’s Wine People.