James Halliday 95 Points

The Oracle — Kilikanoon's Most Powerful Expression

Within the Kilikanoon hierarchy, the Oracle sits at the very top. Where the Covenant is the benchmark, the Oracle is the statement — Kilikanoon's most powerful, concentrated, and age-worthy Clare Valley Shiraz, built from the finest fruit the estate can source and made without compromise. It has long been one of the most celebrated Australian Shiraz wines among international critics, and the 2016 vintage is a compelling example of why: dense, impressive, energetic, and built for the long haul.

James Halliday 95 Points — Nine Years in the Making

The 2016 Oracle is powerful and far from drying — an arsenal of well-integrated oak meets liquorice back strap, smoked spice, and blue to black fruits, with a squeegee of anise-scented acidity that drives the finish long and far. Nine years of bottle age has done exactly what great Clare Valley Shiraz is built to do: softened the edges, integrated the oak, and allowed the wine's true complexity to emerge. This is a wine that rewards those who have waited — and will continue to reward those who wait a little longer.

What's in the Bottle

Variety: Shiraz
Region: Clare Valley, South Australia
Vintage: 2016
Critic Score: 95pts James Halliday
Bottle size: 750ml

Drink Window

At peak now and drinking magnificently with two hours of decanting. The structure and concentration in this wine will continue to develop through 2035 and beyond.

You Might Also Enjoy

If the Kilikanoon Oracle has captured your attention, these icon-level Australian Shiraz from different producers are worth exploring:

• 2019 Sevenhill Brother John May Reserve Shiraz — a 95-point Clare Valley icon from Australia's most extraordinary Jesuit winery — a natural peer in the same region
• 2021 Henschke Hill of Grace Eden Valley Shiraz — Australia's most celebrated single-vineyard Shiraz, from vines planted in the 1860s — the ultimate step up
• 2017 Noon Winery Reserve Shiraz — a cult McLaren Vale icon of extraordinary concentration and depth, produced in tiny quantities

Life's too short for bad wine.