Claymore Wines

About this Cellar

Claymore wines began life in 1997 with an Adelaide medical professional thinking this could be a way to early retirement in the Clare Valley….now 10 years on thoughts of retirement may be premature! 

We originally started making a little grenache and riesling in quantities the ordinary family would finish in a few months.  Now we have reached close to nine thousand case production annually with a range of the varieties that fit nicely into our boutique winery portfolio; Riesling, Grenache, Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

We bought our first 11 acre vineyard at Leasingham in the Clare Valley in 1991 when we realised that despite a background in chemistry, we could not change water into wine.  The vineyard comprises 70 year old grenache, riesling and shiraz vines.  The soil is terra rosa (red loam) on a limestone bed, perfect growing conditions for vines and the vineyard is non-irrigated with yields low, averaging 1.5 to 2 tonnes per acre.

In 1996 the business bought a forty acre block in Penwortham and planted shiraz, merlot and grenache.  The soil is brown loam on slate with little surface water.  ‘Kupu-Kupu’ vineyard is also non-irrigated with low yields of no more than 2 tonne per acre; this compromise with regards to yield means that we have achieved exceptionally high quality fruit from a relatively young planting. In the driest state, on the driest continent in the world water is highly prized and so we make our vineyards do it tough for the sake of sustainability.

Under the careful control of winemaker David Mavor and utilising the modern facilities of Kirrihill Winery, the Claymore wines have developed a reputation for quality and consistency, receiving a 4 & ½ star rating in James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion 2008 Edition.

Our distinctive packaging derives from some of the music legends of modern time; U2, to Pink Floyd to Lou Reed, while the wines themselves are a reflection of the Clare Valley region from which they arise. The result is our interpretation of these modern classics, rock ‘n’ roll for your mouth.

We have received advance notice that our new release 2007 Dark Side of the Moon Shiraz has topped its category in the Winestate Regional Tasting (Clare Valley & Surrounding Districts) along with a great score for the pre-release showing of our 2007 Walk on the Wild Side Shiraz Viognier. (Some stock of the 2006 Walk on the Wild Side remains available but will sell through quickly; bear in mind that the 2006 vintage topped its category in Winestate’s ‘Great Shiraz Challenge in 2008 & 2007

Claymore Wines Dark Side of the Moon Shiraz 2007 4 & 1/2 stars

Equal Top in Category

(19 tasted, 10 recommended)

Claymore Wines Walk on the Wild Side Shiraz Viognier 2007 4 & 1/2 stars

(6 tasted, 5 recommended)