1865 Attunga Shiraz
⏳ Drinking Window
2026 - 2045
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted rack of lamb, prime ribeye steak, slow-cooked venison stew
✨ Technical Specifications
The Attunga 1865 Shiraz is a monument to Australian viticultural history, sourced entirely from a tiny, prized block of ungrafted Shiraz vines planted in the Clare Valley in 1865. Surviving the global phylloxera epidemic, these ancient, low-yielding vines are among the oldest producing vineyards on Earth. The name 'Attunga' translates to 'high place' in the local Indigenous language, referencing the vineyard's elevated position which benefits from cool night breezes that preserve natural acidity. Kilikanoon crafts this rare cuvée using traditional, hands-on techniques, including open-top fermentation and basket pressing, followed by extended maturation in fine French oak hogsheads. The resulting wine is incredibly concentrated, complex, and deeply reflective of its historic terroir, offering a profound sensory journey through time.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1997 by winemaker Kevin Mitchell alongside his viticulturist father Mort Mitchell, Kilikanoon has evolved into one of the Clare Valley’s definitive benchmark estates. Headquartered at an 1860s stone farmhouse in Penwortham, the estate commands access to premier vineyard parcels spanning diverse subregions, including Watervale, Leasingham, and Auburn. Altitudes range from 220 to over 600 meters above sea level, engendering dramatic diurnal shifts that preserve vital acidity and balance the Mediterranean sun. Kilikanoon champions sustainable farming across varied terroirs characterized by red terra rossa over limestone and slate-rich soils, most famously showcased in the ungrafted, dry-grown 1865 Attunga parcel. In the cellar, the winemaking philosophy pairs traditional fermentation techniques with precise maturation in French oak and unadorned vinification for aromatic whites. Revered for power paired with structural elegance, the estate's benchmark bottlings include the storied Attunga 1865 Shiraz, Oracle Shiraz, and the piercing, mineral-driven Mort's Reserve Watervale Riesling.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Shiraz
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
14.5%