2004 Kilikanoon M Reserve Shiraz
Pure fruit. Powerful and elegance. Discernible vintage and terroir stylistis. Balanced structure(ripe fruit, natural acidity, tannin and oak). Fine and rich. Really this kind of ‘old’, ultra-premium Australian (12-year old) wine, such as the Kilikanoon M Reserve Shiraz, is rare and difficult to come by.
Known as Miracle Shiraz these days, the M Reserve Shiraz is Kilikanoon’s pinnacle Shiraz sourced from a fifty year old vineyard(not from Attunga, Mort and the rest in Eden) and is released in exceptional vintages, such the 2004, and produced in limited bottles.
We found it brooding, fine, and spicy with fine dark fruit, baked. It tastes long. Winemakers’ note years back writes, ‘Intensely lifted and expressive, the nose is a hedonistic rush of chocolate, dark berry fruits and perfumed charry oak. Viscous and textured, the 'M' Reserve combines powerful dark fruits, cocoa and mocha flavours with a velveteen complexity that only extended time in quality oak can provide. Fine grained tannins both complement and extend the lingering palate.’
This small cuvee was created traditionally using small open topped fermenters, a basket press and twenty six months maturation in small French oak casks. These months spent in oak has allowed the 'M' Reserve to be bottled unfined and unfiltered in July 2006, thus preserving the vineyards uniquely individual flavours and characters. ABV is 15%. But you don’t feel that high.
Some 10 to 15 years ago, Testament Shiraz(also from Kilikanoon) won all major Shiraz competitions in Hong Kong. The Parable Shiraz(also from Kilikanoon, which we have been promoting earlier) was, according to Parker, slightly better than Testament. Yet, decidely, Parker said that the best among all Shirazes from Kilikanoon was The M Reserve.
Official PR copies wrote, ‘In its relatively short history Kilikanoon has won a large number of Australian and International awards and received high praise from the world’s most respected wine writers. The 2002 Clare Valley Wine Show really put Kilikanoon on the map, when it took home six of the seven trophies. Since that time the winery has gone from strength to strength winning a number of major awards including the San Francisco International Wine Competition’s Best of Nation Trophy (2010), Winery of the Year, Mundus Vini 2011, Best Shiraz worldwide (International Wine and Spirits Competition) Best Riesling Worldwide (International Wine Challenge) and receiving comments such as “This is one of the most brilliantly run wineries in Australia” from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.’
Notable rating is a whopping RP98!!
Robert Parker-Wine Advocate #167 Oct 2006 wrote, ‘A new offering, the 2004 Shiraz M Reserve, aged in 80% French and 20% American oak hogsheads (40% new) for 24 months, was neither fined nor filtered. A monumental example of Shiraz, it is as dark and opaque as a moonless night. Revealing gorgeous notes of roasted herbs, blackberries, sweet cherries, plums, fennel, new saddle leather, and a hint of toasty oak, this full-bodied, powerful, still young and backward 2004 will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age, and should drink well for two decades or more.
