2006 Shiraz-Viognier

A great Canberra District Shiraz, with 2.5% Viognier to provide floral aromas and a lucious mouthfeel, finishing long with red berry fruits and a lovely spicy finish.

• Bronze Medal - Canberra Regional Wine Show September 2007

Reviews

Eat and Drink Magazine - "New Releases" September 2007

Canberra reds have been led by Clonakilla for several years but other high quality wineries are now showing similar style wines. One such is McKellar Ridge with very good shiraz and cabernets from recent vintages. The 2006 shiraz viognier continues the success with a very tidy wine. Australian shiraz is a wonderful beast with rich Barossa, spicy Coonawarra, earthy Hunter, Rhonish Margaret River and elegant yet powerful wines from Canberra. Despite its youth, this shows pristine shiraz dark cherry fruit, some oak spice and a silky palate that belies both its lack of age and fine structure. It's far to easy to drink now but should be kept for at least a year or two before indulging; but ten years cellaring will also be a benefit.

Chris Shanahan - Top Drops, Canberra Times Relax Section, January 6 2008

Brian and Janet Johnston's McKellar Ridge is a tiny operation focusing on small parcels of high quality Canberra District fruit. The wines have always been good. But this latest release, to my taste, does away with a few little blemishes that kept earlier vintages out of the top ranks. In the past I thought the oak intruded slightly on what were otherwise very fine-boned wines. But what we see in 2006 is the pure, lovely fragrance and flavour and supple, smooth texture of cool-grown shiraz. Brian sourced the grapes from Martin Susan's Murrumbateman vineyard and made the wine using traditional techniques.

McKellar Ridge Note: In December 2007 this wine was selected as the ACT Legislative Assembly's "Preferred Wine" and provided at Official Functions of the Assembly.

Huon Hooke, Good Living - Sydney Morning Herald, 1 July 2008

Top Aussie Red. Lovely shiraz viognier blends are coming thick and fast from the Canberra region. This is a bold, vibrant wine with a hint of blackberry and plum fruit with a cassis flavour. Best within five years.

Nick Stock - The Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2009

"Brian and Janet Johnston have played into the regional strength of this Rhone inspired blend, plenty of ripeness and dark brambly fruits, youthful and lightly spiced.  The palate packs dense sweet dark berry flavour into juicy tannins — shows promise.

**** Score 90"