The Stoneaxe vineyard is planted to two clones, PT23 and one locally referred to as Mount Ida. In 2007 the PT23 was particularly good showing an extra dimension of flavour, tannin and colour. We felt that the wine would be quite powerful and would benefit from the extra structure and complexity of some whole bunch inclusion, 50% in this case. We particularly like the extra dimensions of power and complexity in this wine and decided it would be a worthy candidate for our first Garagiste Syrah. The wine was matured in one year old French oak Puncheons for 11 months then bottle matured for another 8 months prior to release. A powerful wine showing spice, plum and quince with some smoky notes from the stems. Long and powerful on the palate with lots of tannin adding structure to balance the concentrated flavours. 100 cases produced.

Purple-crimson, bright and clear; vibrant plum aroma and flavour, with exceptional thrust on the palate aided by fine-grained tannins and perfectly judged oak. Screwcap. 13.6% alc. Rating 96 points; Drink 2020 $44 Date Tasted Aug 08; James Halliday Australian Wine Companion

Armchair Critic, comprising two ranges – Armchair Critic and Under & Over, is Corey Ryan and Nicholas Crampton’s opinion on the way forward for Australian wine globally. Established vineyards in the best regions planted to the most suitable varieties, regardless of fashion, creating balanced wines of character and complexity.

The fruit is sourced from the 30 year Colby Vineyard Block 3. The fruit is de-stemmed before a long maceration and fermentation in small open vessels. The fermentation is finished in stainless steel before transfer to one and two year old (primarily) French oak barrels.

The nose is still knitting together with primeval berry, spice and tar aromas evident. The palate is exciting with slick black fruit rippling through its core. The wine is pleasingly warm and tarry with lots of fruit power and yet a fine skeleton of tannins on which it all rests. The finish is dry and impressively long.

Under & Over is the way forward for Heathcote Shiraz, an impeccably balanced wine of individual character, complexity and charm. Under & Over are made according to a minimalist approach, the focus being on maximum expression of distinctive Heathcote Shiraz fruit character and heightened regionality. The winemaking team at Armchair Critic are well focused on appropriating the most intensely flavoured grapes to construct an excellent interpretation of early drinking Shiraz with outstanding depth of flavour and an impressively ripe, fruit filled finish. Heathcote
 
Heathcote’s ancient Cambrian soils combine with a warm, dry climate to create wines of profound brooding intensity and effortless power whilst retaining the structure and fine tannins to ensure good development. Sustainable viticulture leads to healthy harvests and moderate alcohol which is followed with minimal additions. Shiraz is sourced from established, low yielding sites primarily in the central north of Heathcote, most notably the splendid Colby Vineyard. Grapes are completely de-stemmed before a cool maceration and temperature controlled tank fermentation. Primarily vinified with very little wood treatment, a small component is transferred to seasoned oak barrels for six months maturation. Alcohol 13.5%

Bright scarlet colour. Bouquet of red berries, plum and festive cake with hints of gamey spice and peppercorn aromas. The full, complex nose makes way to a fruit driven palate with a supple core of spiced red and black berries, strawberry and plum kept vital by soft acidity. An impressive depth of flavour and length for a forward drinking Heathcote Shiraz with background oak and gracious tannins, vibrant and approachable in it's youth.

Shiraz vines were established at Balgownie Estate in 1969, followed by a second planting in 1974. The carefully selected site near Bendigo has provided excellent conditions throughout its forty year history, producing impressive reds since the inaugural vintage of 1972. Balgownie is most notable for its deep red colour, vibrant berry fruit aromas, subtle use of oak, velvety textures and fine, lingering tannins.

Classic Bendigo, classic Balgownie Estate; perfectly modulated blackberry, licorice and spice varietal fruit, French oak balanced and integrated; medium-bodied, with very good texture and structure. Drink by: 2023 Date tasted: 30/Jul/2010 Price: $40.00 Alcohol: 14.5% ; 95 Points; James Halliday 

The Balgownie Estate vineyard was planted in 1969. In ‘table wine’ Victorian terms, that makes it a modern pioneer. Love this. Medium-weight but beautifully balanced and textured. Pepper spice, dark cherries, brambles and blackberry. I’d call it black pepper but some might call it white; it’s borderline. Tannins are chalky and loamy; almost grainy. Length is good to excellent. Slightest whisper of peppermint. This is a wine to cellar. Rated : 94 Points Alcohol : 14.5% Price : $40 Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2015 - 2021 By Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front

Deep garnet colored with a purple tinge to the rim, the 2008 Shiraz offers notes of ripe blackberries and mulberries with supporting notes of black pepper, star anise, tar and a whiff of eucalypt. Full bodied with ample fruit and black pepper laced flesh, it has a firm grip of tight-knit, grainy tannins and medium-high acid. It finishes long and savory. Approachable now, it should soften with another year in bottle and drink though 2020. Founded as a boutique winery in 1969 by Stuart Anderson, after a series of various owners Balgownie was purchased by the Forrester brothers who have invested a lot of money to get the now 40 year old vineyards back into shape. eRobertParker.com #195 (Jun 2011)

Blue Gold - Sydney International Wine Competition 2011

In the heart of South Australia’s Riverland region, Banrock Station is a 1,800 hectare protected mallee eco-system, a 250 hectare vineyard and home to the Banrock Station Wine & Wetland Centre. At Banrock Station, we are working to restore degraded natural resources and rejuvenate the magnificent Banrock Wetland. We are also working to ensure environmental havens are restored and preserved for future generations by donating part proceeds of every sale of Banrock Station wines to Landcare Australia.

The vineyards of South Australia’s Riverland produce rich, full flavoured fruit and the Banrock planting is no exception. The quality fruit that is produced is carefully handled at every stage of the wine making process to ensure that the inherent characteristics are maintained.

The 2005 Shiraz is vibrant purple with deep red hues, this wine epitomises the depth of colour and flavour Australian Shiraz’s are renowned for. Aromas of black currant, cherry and spicy oak precede a soft and supple palate. Fresh fruit characters of cherry and red berry fruits are balanced by licorice and tantalising chocolate flavours. Hints of cinnamon, vanilla and oak add complexity to this exceptional wine.

Retains good hue; a sumptuously rich and velvety wine which has waves of black fruits, chocolate and mocha supported by fine, ripe tannins and good oak — and nary a hint of pepper, black or otherwise. Cork. 15% alc. Rating 94 Points; Drink 2020 $90 Date Tasted Feb 09 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2010

A smooth, polished shiraz with a broad spectrum of varietal flavour. It's floral, slightly musky aromas of dark berries and plums is backed by cedar/vanilla oak and reveals undertones of bell pepper, white pepper, cinnamon and anise. It's long and fine-grained, with rich, confiture-like flavours of dark plums and berries, redcurrants and mulberries tightly knit with fine-grained tannins and sweet oak, finishing with underlying strength and minerality.(17.2/90, YTD 2010-2013+) Jeremy Oliver

Bold deep red purple with inviting crimson hues. The aromas are captivating and perfect cool climate vanilla and cedar oak notes combine with blackberry fruit, spice and a hints of star anise to compile the groundwork of a seriously good Shiraz.

The first sip immediately shows rich plums and prune juice flavours dominate this fleshy full and lively palate. The finish is like a great big steak, long and juicy with chamois textured tannins. Absolutely perfect for the weekend and some thinking time!

Fruit for this vibrant Shiraz was vinified in open top fermenters, destemmed and inoculated with cultured yeast. The juice was then pumped over and the cap headed down. Once the fermenting juice was drained the wine was pressed off and transferred to 25 per cent new, 40 per cent one year old and 35 per cent two year old French and American oak to complete primary and malolactic fermentation. Portions of the final blend underwent malolactic fermentation and were then kept in older wood to give added fresh red fruit lift and balance to the final wine.

Wine Advocate #143 (Oct 2002) Robert Parker (89-93) points  Drink 2002-2010 $US45.00. Aged in a combination of French and American oak (25% new), the 2001 Shiraz easily conceals its 14.6% alcohol behind an explosion of huckleberry and blackberry fruit, with hints of mint and oak in the background. Layered, dense, chewy, and opulent, it should be an outstanding Shiraz ... if it is not excessively fined or filtered at bottling. Anticipated maturity: now-2010.

Wonderful rich Shiraz flavours with our trademark smoky, mint and berry nose. This vintage is quite an approachable wine now, well balanced and with a long finish. As with the Cabernet, the Shiraz has developed some quite addictive flavours from the longer ripening period. Displaying fruit and oak with a soft tannin structure, the wine is delicious with food.

Shiraz has been produced at Best’s Great Western since the late 1800s, although the actual date of the first Bin 0 Shiraz is lost in the annuals of time. What is certain is that Bin 0 as a descriptor on the wine label has been in use for over 100 years. Best’s Bin 0 Shiraz is produced from the four original Shiraz plantings in the low yielding blocks of the historic Concongella vineyard at Great Western. This includes nineteenth century and mid twentieth century plantings of Shiraz which result in very low yielding, intense vines. The fruit is hand-selected, sorted and fermented in small-batches followed by rigorous barrel selection. The wine is then aged in our underground cellar.

The esteemed Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine upgraded Bin No.O Shiraz in Classification V 2010 from ”Distinguished” to “Excellent” category.

Take off your shoes, this label has commanded respect over three centuries. Best’s is in the midst of an epiphany right now, making wines equal with its, well, best! Ultra-fine graphite tannins, elegant plum and berry fruits and sensational persistence make Bin 0 ravishing both now and later. Drink 2013-2028 96 points; Tyson Stelzer; Wine Taste

I have long admired Best's, but never more than in its current releases, of which Bin 0 is the pinnacle. Deep but elegant red and black fruits ride over a finely-woven tannin web. Unashamedly medium-weight, its texture is of ultra-fine graphite and beautifully defined acidity. Approachable and long-lived. 96 Points; Tyson Stelzer; Wine 100

I’ve long been a fan of Best’s Bin O Shiraz but I really like the direction it’s been heading in of late. It’s never been a tired or overdone style but recent releases have a freshness to them that I really enjoy. It’s the clip of acidity, the fresh boysenberried flavours, the spunkiness of the oak – Bin O shiraz is never overtly or excessively oaked, but the oak you can detect in this 2008 version is sawdusty and cedary and eminently suited to the fruit. This is a Bin 0 release with a bit of sex appeal. It’s still beautifully balanced, lightly tannic, nuanced by five-spice and clear through the finish. It’s a very good Bin O Shiraz. Rated : 94 Points Alcohol : 14.5% Price : $65 Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2012 - 2020 By Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front

Relative to Best's normal style, this is a big, solid, powerful rendition, with intense dark-fruit aroma and flavour, density and "chew", concentration and extract. A profound wine of tremendous length, one of Best's best in recent memory. 95 Points; Huon Hooke, SMH Good Living, February 8, 2011, $65

The significance of the Great Western district in the history of Victorian red wine is not as well known as it should be. Now more often referred to as the Grampians wine region or, sadly, as a brand of inexpensive bubbly, this patch of vineyards near Stawell has produced legendary shiraz for generations. Best's and Seppelt are the two best-known names and both produce superb wines. Best's latest Bin No. 0 Shiraz is the wine type at its best. Plums, berries and subtle peppery notes touched with blackcurrant and sweet spice meet the nose. It's a velvety mouthful - intense but not heavy - which glides across the palate on a fine underpinning of ripe tannins. Lovely; Wine of the Week; 5 stars; Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Age Epicure, February 1, 2011

Trophy - Best Shiraz - 2010 Sydney Royal Wine Show
Trophy - Best Shiraz - 2010 Ballarat Wine Show
Gold - 2010 Sydney Royal Wine Show

A rich, powerful and assertive shiraz whose fruit profile just manages to stay within the bounds of genuine ripeness. Deep, dark and spicy, its meaty, leathery and slightly briary aromas of intense red and black berry fruits are backed by dusty clove and vanilla-like oak. The palate backs a substantial weight of slightly angular and brambly fruit with a firm and palate-coating extract of drying tannin. Finishing with nutty, savoury qualities, it’s long and persistent, if at present slightly raw and awkward. An unashamed cellar style, it will take some time to reach its ultimate balance and integration. (Great Western, $105 retail, approx., 18.7/95, drink 2024-2034) Jeremy Oliver

More concentration of power and greater structure than Bin O; blackberry with splashes of licorice and spice; will be seriously long-lived, and is not yet showing its best. 14.5º alc. Rating 95 Drink 2010 $99 Date Tasted Jan 07 James Halliday Wine Companion 2008

Beautiful deep inky purple hues. Ripe and generous fruit on the nose, deep dark berries. Varietal shiraz grape aromas. Amazingly rich, dense and detailed, layers of complexity with dark cherry and plum, medium boded intensity with plenty of generous palate texture. A long and powerful finish with fine grain tannins. Cellaring 12 – 25 years; Frost was minimal in the 2006 growing season – Which was great news as far as Shiraz is concerned. Quality was good and although overall yields were down below average winter rainfall in 2004 meant that yields were restricted as the vines struggled to find water.

Superb crimson hue; fragrant bouquet with spice, pepper and black cherry fruit, then a glorious silken, supple palate, with red and black cherry and plum foremost, the tannin and oak contribution perfectly judged. The quality of the cork is good, but... Cork. 14% alc. Rating 97 Points; Drink 2026 $150 Date Tasted Sep 09 James Halliday Wine Companion

An exemplary Great Western shiraz whose pristine expression of small black and red berry fruits, tightly knit cedar/chocolate oak and dusty, spicy and peppery undertones simply ooze finesse and charm. More savoury and artful than its predecessors, this stylish and seamless wine has plumpness and juiciness, but finishes long and savoury, with lingering charcuterie-like complexity. It’s medium to full in weight and should develop in the bottle for decades. (Grampians/Great Western, $150 retail, approx., 19.3/97, drink 2036-2046) Jeremy Oliver

I had a good look at this wine, well as best I could really, and tried it next to the Bin 0 of the same vintage a couple of times. Very different beasts they are. It’s clean, spicy and peppery with aniseed and cedar oak. Medium to full bodied with pretty strong tannin and very savoury too, there’s echoes of 96 here with its meaty firmness. At this stage it has concentration and structure at the expense of charm. It looks a touch dehydrated and I’ve reservations on the tannin, although with air the wine grew in stature and fleshed out considerably. Rated : 94+ Points Tasted : Oct-09 Alcohol : 14% Price : $150 Closure : Cork Drink : 2016 - 2026 By Gary Walsh; The WIne Front

Heritage in a bottle, this wine epitomizes all that is "Concongella" Great Western.   Well balanced, the wine is rich, powerful and generous. Time in the bottle will result in a refined and silky wine.

The Thomson Family Shiraz is hand harvested, hand plunged and fermented in two tonne tubs, it is only produced in years when we consider the quality second to none.

The wine is produced predominantly from the fifteen rows of vines planted by Henry Best in the late 1860's, referred to as "Hermitage" by Henry in his daily journal.  Today the clone is referred to by the C.S.I.R.O. as the Concongella clone and the mother clone of all subsequent plantings on Best's Great Western vineyards.  The balance comes from Bart’s Block, planted in 1966.  

Beautiful deep purple hues. Ripe and generous fruit on the nose, deep dark berries. Varietal shiraz grape aromas. Rich and detailed, layers of complex, finely interwoven fruit and tannin supported ably by fine French oak. Long and powerful finish with soft crumbling tannins.

One of the Coonawarra's most compelling cases for Shiraz, Bowen Estate's meritorious achievements really do begin in the vineyard. The fruit of intensive viticultural management and judicious selection, it is ultimately the quality of grapes extracted from the vine which dictates the splendour in this cardinal construct of Coonawarra Shiraz.

Bowen hold a very strong belief in an old fashioned hand pruning of vines. Such care improves evenness of budburst, bunch exposure and ripeness, for restricted yields of the most intensely flavoured Cabernet Sauvignon. It is this special quality of fruit which translates into benchmark Coonawarra efforts. Shiraz grapes are harvested, crushed and vinified on skins for five days. A third of the fruit is barrel fermented in new wood each year. Batches are monitored through to completion of malolactic, racked off settled lees solids and matured twenty months in a selection of 225 litres American oak barriques

The opulent nature of Bowen Shiraz is evident from the moment it's poured into your glass. A bouquet rich in plum fruit characters and spicy oak overtones which add to the complexity. Ripe and generous well rounded palate is enhanced by elegant and finely balanced Coonawarra tannins supported by spicy American oak. Drinking well now, the depth of structure will continue to evolve. Serve with casseroles, tagines and tomato meat pasta recipes.

A multi dimensional bouquet of roasted meats, mineral, cola, tar and blackberry. Give this one time to open up, this monster is built for the long haul! The palate starts out thick and coating; immediately powerful and explosive, you are then thrown a huge chunk of fruit while the acid and tannin roll around trying to tame it. The wine shows great oak handling and remains succulent, complete and perfectly balanced.
 
The grapes were crushed into and fermented in open top potters, with regular pump overs twice daily to extract colour and tannin. The grapes were then pressed and the wine was transferred to tank and then racked to barrel for oak maturation. Barossa Valley South Australia. The vineyard is located to the south of the township of Greenock in the western Barossa Valley. The Branson vineyard was planted in 1990 to Shiraz and Cabernet. Grown on the fabled deep red clay soil that dominates the area, a key element in the unique terroir of this small pocket of the Barossa Valley.

A stunning example of premium Langhorne Creek Shiraz, showing richness and density integrated with fine elegant oak, giving a structural long finish to the wine.

We are in a unique position in that we are able to keep all parcels of our wine separate from the time of picking through fermentation to oak maturation. Following some barrel maturation, each parcel is assessed, and the most outstanding parcels of Shiraz are allowed further maturation before being blended to create the Old Adam.

The concentrated, high quality parcels of fruit were fermented in open vats, and then matured for 24 months in new specifically selected, extra fine grain, American oak. An additional 12 months in bottle allows full integration of oak and fruit tannin.

Deep in colour, with a super-ripe bouquet of liqueur soaked black fruits, charry oak and fresh bitumen; the palate is very warm, rich and ripe, pushing the envelope in this regard; long, dense, chewy and full of fruitcake to conclude. 94 Points; James Halliday Wine Companion

The name "Selkirk" is in recognition of our Grandfather's heritage. This Scottish border town was the ancestral home of the Willson family.

Careful vineyard management and controlled yields ensure premium fruit for this distinctive Shiraz style. It has a deep, vibrant colour and offers distinctive varietal characters, complemented by spicy oak nuances. A layered, well‐balanced palate structure and a persistent finish, provides a frame for the full bodied berry fruit flavours and touches of spice.

After fermentation in small batch open top fermenters, the wine spent 18 months in carefully selected fine grain American oak. A proportion of new (30%) American oak barriques were used to enhance its palate structure and flavour complexities without masking the varietal fruit characters.

A very attractive medium-bodied wine with plum, blackberry and black cherry fruit; good length, restrained alcohol and fine tannins. Cork. 14.5% alc. Rating 93 Drink 2015 Date Tasted Dec 06 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion

The 2005 Draycott Shiraz also contains 5% Mourvedre. The Shiraz was sourced from a 45-year-old vineyard and the wine was aged in French oak, 35% new. Purple-colored, the nose reveals toasty oak, mineral, licorice, black raspberry, and blueberry. Medium-bodied and elegant, the wine offers layers of savory flavors, outstanding depth, and a long, smooth finish. The wine has enough stuffing to permit 5-7 years of further evolution in bottle but can be enjoyed now and over the next 12-15 years. Wine Advocate # 173 Oct 2007 Jay Miller 93 Drink: 2007 - 2022

Ripe and supple, showing a distinct black pepper note running through the rich cherry and sweet leather flavors, with the fruit lingering on the plush finish. Rich without being over the top. Best from 2009 through 2017. 490 cases made. 92 points Wine Spectator

Inky ruby. Pungent cherry and cassis aromas are complicated by cured meat and licorice. Fleshy and sweet, with deep red berry preserve flavors, supple tannins and a late note of cola. This is very open right now, and showing excellent finishing sweetness, but I suspect it will gain complexity with a few years of additional bottle aging. (Sept/Oct 08) 90(+?) points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

The 2008 vintage weather conditions were warm with below average rainfall. We harvested 1.8 tons/acre over 33 acres, a perfect quantity. The wines show great replication of site and soil characteristics, with good intensity and mouth feel, complexity and length. Exceptional wines from an interesting year.

Powerful nose with depth and complexity of cool climate Shiraz. Spiced with pepper and minerality, leaning towards earthy. This year there is approximately 4% Viognier blended which is average over the previous years. The palate has a very pleasant sweetness to start followed by intense fruit and of earthy long tannins which complete a robustness that does not prevent the overall impression from offering a certain elegance and harmony. Drink now or keep for 5 – 10 years.
 
Usual good colour; a shiraz made by a pinot noir maker, and harking to the affinity between the Northern Rhône and Burgundy. Perfumed and silky, it is no more than medium-bodied; is supple and long, fruits washing between red and black. Cork. Rating 96 points. James Halliday – The Australian Wine Companion - 2011

A mostly Shiraz wine with smaller components of Mataro and Grenache, sourced primarily from good vineyards along the Margaret River. Drawing inspiration from the wines of the Rhone Valley, Marmaduke balances the pepper and spiceyness of Shiraz, sweet fruit flavours of Grenache with the earthy, gamey influence of the torrid Mataro. The search for fully ripe flavours essential to the Marmaduke style requires harvest in the latter part of the season when the flavours and natural fruit sugars climax, while the tannins mature and soften.

The majority of the Shiraz was grown on Cape Mentelle vineyards, mostly located in the Wallcliffe and Karridale subregions within the Margaret River appellation. Soils are derived from decomposed granite and consist of gravelly loam over deep clay subsoil. All vines are vertically shoot positioned and managed to ensure balanced growth throughout the season. Parcels of hand and machine harvested fruit are vinified in a combination of open and static fermenters, managed with a combination of plunging and pumpovers. All batches were basket pressed and transferred to large oak vats for malolactic. Marmaduke was matured fourteen months mostly in large oak barrels before assemblage. Alcohol 14.0%

Dark red with crimson hues. Vibrant blueberry and dark cherry in the foreground with complex earthy characters, spice and lifted, bright violet notes. Rich and textural palate with briary dark fruits and subtle pepper. The palate’s length is defined by long, fine, chalky tannins. A medium bodied, fruit forward red wine where the spice, depth and richness of Shiraz are tempered by the warming personas and engaging complexity of Mataro and Grenache, the classic Rhone varietal blend, at its best with wood fired pizza.

Vivid crimson; a highly fragrant, sweet-fruited bouquet leads into a textured palate juxtaposing red and black fruits with a grainy finish; no lack of character. Shiraz/Grenache/Mataro. Screwcap. 14% alc. Rating 91 Points; Drink 2018 $19 Date Tasted Jul 10 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2011