Kilikanoon Reds - Explorer Selection

“I first came across Kilikanoon Wines in my early twenties - I was a huge Riesling fan and they made a cracker so I fell in love early and the value is unbelievable. The perfect bottle to crack on a Friday night to kick off your weekend. Get home, pour yourself a glass, start cooking and hope there’s some left by the time you’re done. We’ve bought the Golden Hillside for years now, and it just keeps getting better and better. ”

– Justin Dry, Co-Founder, Vinomofo

The Wines

1 of each:

Kilikanoon Kelly 1932 Grenache 2019

Clare Valley, SA

95pts Halliday Wine Companion | 4.4 Vivino (All Vintages) | Five Red Star Halliday Rated Winery

Hand-selected from very special bush vines that were planted in the early 30s, this single vineyard grenache is as hard working as the people who tend the vines. As if the fruit wasn’t already delicious enough, it sees a gentle 15 months in french oak to add the cherry-on-top complexity and flavour intensity. Think dark cherry, cranberry, chocolate and seasoned smoked meats when taking a sip and let the natural chalky tannins take over your mouth. Over the tasting bench, there was barely a word spoken, nothing quite seems to do this wine justice like a moment’s silence.

YOU’D PAY $120 full price. 

Kilikanoon Oracle Shiraz 2016

Clare Valley, SA

96pts Ray Jordan |95pts James Halliday | Five Star Halliday Rated Winery

 This wine speaks of its home, and it’s not afraid to show you all that is great about the Clare Valley. Crafted from low-yielding shiraz parcels in prime territory, this wine is one that is only made when the vintage cuts the mustard. Each parcel of fruit is treated as its own, respecting the nuances that might arise in each crop. It’s then carefully fermented to preserve the fruit purity. 18 months in new and seasoned French oak has kicked this bad boy into luxury status and has set it up for years of ageing potential. It rolls across the tongue with focused dark berries and red fruits, before showing you its more brooding side: savoury cured meats, olive tapenade, dark chocolate and sweet spices. It’s easy to see why our winemakers are proud to craft this wine as their love letter to the Clare. 

YOU’D PAY $96 full price. 

Kilikanoon Ridgeline Shiraz 2019

Clare Valley, SA

Five Red Star Halliday Rated Winery | Mofo Fave | Single Vineyard | Vegan Friendly

Ridgeline isn’t just a marketing term for this shiraz. The grapes are sourced from a few rows at the very top of the hill on their Morrison’s Vineyard, overlooking the town of Watervale. There’s a smidge of new oak used here, but the majority is older barrels to the tune of 15 months. This provides a bit of texture and structure while still letting that fruit sing. We found dark cherry, plum, dried herbs and licorice all wrapped up in a savoury blanket with a lengthy finish and ripe tannins. Another hit from a producer that seems to know no other way.

YOU’D PAY $65 full price. 

Kilikanoon Golden Hillside Shiraz 2020

Clare Valley, SA

Five Red Star Halliday Rated Producer  | Mofo Fav

Kickass Kili have done it again. Their inimitable Golden Hillside shiraz is a firm ‘fo fave, and consistently one of the fastest-selling wines we bring in. Not surprising, really. Rambunctious cherries and burstingly-juicy berries are just contained by a toasty coating of fabulous French oak. No rush to drink this beauty, it’ll keep the rest of your cellar very good company for a decade, easy. 

YOU’D PAY $45 full price. 

Kilikanoon Golden Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Clare Valley, SA

94pts Wine Orbit | 5 Stars Wine Orbit | 5 Red Star Halliday Rated Producer | Mofo Fave

Clare Valley cabernet is vastly underrated at all ends of the price spectrum. For this money, Kilikanoon have (yet again) delivered an absolute titanic effort. It’s bright and lively the moment it hits the palate, sizzling with fruit flavour and life. Then, as you settle in for the ride, come savoury tones of spice and herbs, followed by a long, luxurious finish. It’s still young, so it’s all about the bright fruit at the moment, but there’s so much potential for ageing that it’s almost scary when you consider the value on offer here. That said, it’s massively enjoyable right now. Give it a spell in the decanter if you’re afraid of getting stuck in straight away. But, you can probably tell from my enthusiasm that I was far from put off by this young wine, and not a word of anything but praise was uttered around the tasting bench by my fellow mofos.

YOU’D PAY $45 full price. 

Kilikanoon Golden Hillside Shiraz Cabernet 2018

Clare Valley, SA

94pts Wine Orbit | 5 Stars Wine Orbit | 5 Red Star Halliday Rated Winery | Mofo Fave Producer

This wine needs almost no introduction. Last vintage, hundreds of cases sold out in record time, and once you try it, you’ll understand why. This is legendary Clare Valley shiraz cab. Black fruit and liquorice over earthy and spicy undertones, held together with a lashing of toasty oak that melds into the wine seamlessly. It’s a classic style that changes minimally from vintage to vintage, and it’s bloody great. It’s got the same supreme freshness as a feature, with depth and darkness, and just a touch of mint. There’s no questioning the impeccable quality of these wines.

YOU’D PAY $45 full price.