Shiraz Secret Places
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2036
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Slow-roasted lamb shanks, Grilled ribeye steak, Hard aged cheeses
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted as an homage to the tucked-away, boutique vineyard parcels scattered across the rolling hills of the Clare Valley, Kilikanoon's 'Secret Places' Shiraz captures the mysterious charm of South Australia's premium microclimates. Sourced from select, low-yielding vineyard sites that remain closely guarded secrets of the winemaking team, this cuvée highlights the dramatic diurnal temperature shifts of the region. Warm days develop rich, dark plum and blackberry flavors, while the famously cool nights preserve a vibrant natural acidity and introduce complex notes of black pepper, licorice, and subtle eucalyptus. Vinified using traditional techniques and matured in a combination of French and American oak hogsheads, this wine represents a harmonious marriage of power and elegance, embodying the rugged beauty and hidden treasures of the Clare Valley landscape.
🍾 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.
🍇 Grapes
Shiraz