I don’t have price or alcohol details as yet but I’ll fill the numbers in when they come through. More importantly I’m pretty excited about the way the wine tastes. This year’s release is made from grapes grown mostly in the Barossa Valley (shiraz), though there is a small amount of shiraz from Magill Estate in Adelaide included in the final wine, and two percent cabernet sauvignon from Coonawarra. As always, it’s matured in 100 percent new American oak. This year’s Grange is a wine with a huge, clean, cutting right hook of flavour as you swallow.

It’s not a massive release but the ropes of flavour-drenched tannin on the finish pull it on and on. This precision engineering through the finish marks its intense quality. It tastes of blackberry and aniseed, nutmeg and smoky vanilla. It’s quite delicious, and yet there’s no question that it’s powerfully wrought. It’s not a particularly heralded vintage, in general terms, but the way this release presents in the glass is, to me, what Grange is all about. Impeccable winemaking, pure fruit, clasps of uncompromising tannin, smokin’ barrels, and thrust. It will live for a very long time, because it’s so well designed, and because it does its thing so well. Rated : 97 Points Drink : 2020 - 2040 By Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front

Koonunga Hill is very much a reflection of the Penfolds winemaking style and philosophy. Since the first vintage in 1976 of Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet, the brand’s reputation has been built on widespread acclaim. Koonunga Hill Seventy Six Shiraz Cabernet was released from the 2006 vintage, thirty years after the original wine and pays homage to a remarkable, long-lived style. It is a refined version of its stablemate and shows “extra dimension and complexity.

Since its inception, Penfolds Koonunga Hill has always aimed to deliver quality, value and consistency. The original 1976 Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet is a legendary wine that is still drinking well today, with numerous bottles still taken to the Penfolds Red Wine Re-corking Clinics by collectors who know of its quality and longevity.

Vintage started slightly earlier than average and proceeded exceptionally well with mild, dry ripening conditions and cool nights. Healthy vines and below average crops meant that the grapes ripened evenly, with strong varietal definition and character.

Deep, dark red core with purple at the rim. Lifted aromas of dark berried fruits including raspberry and blueberry. Integrated oak offers vanilla bean and mocha notes. Dark chocolate and liquorice arise with some savoury roast lamb notes. Medium to full bodied with rich, generous dark berry fruit flavours. The balance is excellent and finishes with obvious but well integrated tannins, creating a long, lingering finish. Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker

Penfolds St Henri is a highly successful and alternative expression of Shiraz and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual among high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any new oak. It was created in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957) and gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood.

St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters as it ages. It is matured in old, 1460-litre vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of Cabernet is sometimes used to improve structure, the focal point for St Henri remains Shiraz.

Bright, youthful, red. Pure, real, unadulterated, honest Shiraz... and 100% at that in this 2007 vintage release! Primarily, freshly-pureed mixed-berries - raspberry, mulberry, loganberry, sitting alongside aromas alike those from candied/toffeed apple. Fresh, vibrant, lively. A complete wine - fruits, tannins, acid, maturation artifacts... all combine to structurally & texturally deliver. Tannins are even throughout, yet serve to tighten palate in middle, with a singular, central focus. Robe markers - crushed shale (and saltbush/ bluebush?) evident... perhaps understandable at over one quarter of blend volume. Poised, yet still lush, generous.

I always say it: St Henri can be such a difficult wine to rate as a youngster. I recall not liking the 1999 on release; in time it made a fool of me. This release feels loose-knit and stewy. It seems like the result of a difficult year. That said, it smells beautifully of violets, plums, blueberries and spice. Its perfume is rather enchanting. What impresses most about this wine though is its length; it swirls out through the finish, trailing big ribbons of tannin. It’s medium-weight at most, but that finish gets me over the line. Yes, once again, I think this St Henri has a significant future ahead of it. Though it’s only the wine’s persistence, and its enchanting aromatics, that make me think it – those stewy elements are less endearing. Drink : 2015 - 2022 92+ Points Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

A lesser St Henri, from a challenging, fast-ripening year. 100% shiraz, with Robe leading the blend, then McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Padthaway, Barossa Valley, Coonawarra and Adelaide Hills. A fragrance of violets carries through the bouquet and palate, with nuances of pepper and blueberries. Stewy fruit notes, candied strawberries and a dryness to the finish detract, but texture, fruit focus and persistence save the day. Drink 2017-2022 92 Points Tyson Stelzer

Thomas Hyland was son-in-law of the estate's founder, Dr. Christopher Rawson Penfold. Hyland oversaw the development of what, in his lifetime, became Australia's most famous name in wine. Penfold Thomas Hyland honours his entrepreneurial contribution and his passion. A recent addition to the portfolio, Thomas Hyland Shiraz is a multi district wine drawing fruit from the large retinue of Penfolds vineyards. An entry level, fruit-driven style, accessible and contemporary, underpinned by a touch of new oak to enhance complexity and overall freshness

Development of quality reds for the contemporary palate is an exciting part of the job for the winemaking team at Penfolds, as they strive to simultaneously maintain the Penfolds wine style and explore new territories. Thomas Hyland Shiraz is made to be true to a particular style each year, whilst retaining the inimitable character and charm that represents Penfold. Sourced from premium viticultural districts across South Australia, Thomas Hyland offers a contemporary expression of varietal flavour on a solid structure. The exactingly managed vineyards produce Shiraz wines of elegance and intensity. Thomas was matured for thirteen months in a combination of fine French and American oaks

Colour is a vibrant rich red, attractive, with purple hues. Lifted and aromatic, the nose is perfumed and inviting, richly fragrant with dark stone fruits and chocolate, exotic spices and pepper notes integrating with an attractive vanilla bean character of background oak. Varietal spice of cinnamon courts assertive, youthful Shiraz fruits. An instantly appealing, alluringly drinkable wine, generously flavoured with lively red plum fruits and blackberry notes set against a fabric of ripe, rounded tannins and underlying savoury oak. A contemporary fruit-driven style with excellent depth and length, oak plays a supportive role, fruit, acidity and tannins command the lead. Ideally suited to good beef and lamb

A wine of great depth of colour reflecting the splendid 2009 red wine vintage. The bouquet has tantalising aromas of dark plums and black fruits with just a hint of oak in the background. It is a seamless wine with an excellent structure, its rich fruit reined in by firm tannins. A beautiful expression of Barossa Shiraz, it will continue to develop in the bottle for five plus years.

The 2009 vintage started early with a week of hot weather. Following this, the climate settled down to an extended spell of warm, dry days & cool nights producing wines with excellent colour & flavour. Sourced from selected premium Shiraz vineyards located through out the Barossa. Fruit was fermented on skins for seven days. Following pressing, clarification and blending, the wine was matured in French and American oak hogsheads for 12 months prior to bottling. This wine is a perfect accompaniment with steak, roast beef and lamb and excellent with pizza and meat based pasta dishes. It is delightful with aged cheddar or pecorino cheeses.

Stonewell Shiraz is Peter Lehmann Wines best wine of each vintage and one of the world’s great Shiraz. It is the most powerful expression of Shiraz we make from our growers’ vineyards. The pedigree of these vineyards and the knowledge that has been passed from each winemaking generation at Peter Lehmann Wines to the next, assures us these will be wines of great longevity. The story of Stonewell Shiraz began in 1987 when Peter Lehmann decided to make a special Shiraz - a wine of immense intensity and muscularity that would demand time in the barrel and bottle before release. The wine was named ‘Stonewell’ after the district that he believed best showed the characters admired most in Barossa Shiraz. This tradition has continued and each vintage the best Shiraz from our legacy of growers’ Barossa vineyards is chosen to create Stonewell. Usually no more than a dozen small, old vineyards are selected each year, the oldest planted in 1885. Located in the harder country, these are some of our lowest yielding vineyards. The berries are small and sparse with crops typically less than 2 tonnes per acre.
 
One sip and you’re hooked. It presses all the right buttons in all the right places: profound dark-fruit flavour, integrated cedary oak, lengthy, filligreed tannin, brightness of flavour and the persistence to polish off the package. Terrific. I’ve only tasted this as part of a large tasting of Stonewell Shiraz wines, but in that context it looked the goods, and then some. Rated : 96 Points; Alcohol : 14.5%; Price : $85; Closure : Screwcap; Drink : 2017 - 2028; By Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front
 
Deep crimson colour; distinctly rich black fruit and spice aromas, the palate long and sustained, with a beguiling twist of vibrant fruit on the finish. Due for release 2009. 95 points, drink to 2020, Cork, 14.5% alc; James Halliday; Australian Wine Companion
 
A stylish wine, remarkably approachable at this age. Deep, blackish colour; cedary French oak shows together with lots of spice, leather and some vegetal aromas. An elegant, intense wine of fine balance and generous – almost essency – plum, cherry and blackberry fruit. Marvellous harmony. Already a pleasure to drink. Now to 2020. 95 Points. Huon Hooke, AGT Wine June 2009

Stonewell Shiraz is Peter Lehmann Wines best wine of each vintage and one of the world’s great Shiraz. It is the most powerful expression of Shiraz made from the growers’ vineyards. The pedigree of these vineyards and the knowledge that has been passed from each winemaking generation at Peter Lehmann Wines to the next, assuring wines of great longevity. The story of Stonewell Shiraz began in 1987 when Peter Lehmann decided to make a special Shiraz - a wine of immense intensity and muscularity that would demand time in the barrel and bottle before release.

The wine was named ‘Stonewell’ after the district that he believed best showed the characters admired most in Barossa Shiraz. This tradition has continued and each vintage the best Shiraz from our legacy of growers’ Barossa vineyards is chosen to create Stonewell. Usually no more than a dozen small, old vineyards are selected each year, the oldest planted in 1885. Located in the harder country, these are some of our lowest yielding vineyards. The berries are small and sparse with crops typically less than 2 tonnes per acre.

Stonewell is the finest Barossa shiraz of the modern era. A monumental call, but no other comes close in its consistency across more than two decades, its core of profound longevity and the ever-escalating grandeur of its finest vintages. 2006 is a maelstrom of concentrated power and uncompromising composure like none that has gone before it. Screw cap for the first time! Drink 2021-2031; 97 points; Tyson Stelzer in Wine Taste

I gave this wine the highest score of any in the show! This is an epic vintage for the finest and most age-worthy Barossa shiraz of all. It ricochets with liquorice and black fruits but its composure and poise are unswerving, laced together by a ribbon of ultra-fine tannins. Twenty year potential...The pattern of even-numbered vintages continues, here reaching levels of concentration, structure and balance as lofty as any before it. The palate is utterly powerful, ricocheting with black fruits of all kinds, liquorice, sarsaparilla and mint. In the midst of this maelstrom, its composure and poise are uncompromising, laced together by a ribbon of ultra-fine, deeply set tannins. 97 points; Tyson Stelzer

Youthful crimson; an immaculate bouquet with black fruits and oak seamlessly interwoven, the palate flooded with rich blackberry, plum and licorice fruit held together by good oak and fine-grained tannins. Surely destined to be a classic. 96 points, drink to 2026, Cork, 14.5% alc; James Halliday Wine Companion

Another excellent Barossa vintage and a top Stonewell in the making. Concentrated peppermint, aniseed, blackberry aromas on both nose and palate. Lush flavour and fine but persuasive  tannins; fruit to the fore again and oak in the background. Great balance and length; a class act and a delicious wine all round. Best 2011 to 2026+. 96 Points; Huon Hooke; Good Living

It's an Aussie classic. In big, beautiful form. Soft, plum-shot, chocolatey fruit flavour with both earthen notes and coffeed oak character. It's a big wine, but everything is neatly in place. The extension of flavour through the finish is outstanding and the tannin structure significant, but impeccably well formed. Long life ahead. Rating: 95 Points; Drink: 2013-2023; Price: $85; Alcohol: 14.5%; Seal: Screwcap; Campbell Mattinson and Gary Walsh, The Big Red Wine Book 2010/11

After several years of drought and ordinary weather patterns the 2008 season was extremely gentle with ideal vintage conditions. The grapes come from two blocks of nearly 20-year-old vines. The vines produce moderate crops and require particular thinning to achieve an even set across vines and rows. Both blocks were picked at the end of March. The fruit was mostly de-stemmed then hand sorted across a conveyer belt and transferred to a mix of open and closed fermentors. No yeast was added, relying on native yeast in the vineyard. Ferment started after 2 + days. The open ferment punched down and the closed were pumped over gently each day.
1% of viognier from block 19 was co-fermented with a batch of Shiraz. This adds complexity, mouthfeel and tones the peppery character associated with this cool climate shiraz.

The wine was on skins for 20 days in the open and 30+ days in closed fermentors, the time was based on taste and tannin structure. Wines were pressed and settled overnight before racking to barrel. 50% new fine grain French and American for 18 months – racked twice during this time. Transferred to tank for blending and bottling.

The fruit used for No.89 is from the 20 year old vines that exhibit powerful spices and peppery flavours – a representation of a classic cool area Shiraz. The oak adds complexity, but the intense fruit restrains and helps harmonise. The flavours are vibrant and follow the aroma of spicy fruit characters. There is 1% Viognier co-fermented in this wine and it contributes a very subtle softening of the cool climate spice. Soft fine tannins combine with great length of flavour to give a wine of youth that will repay cellaring.

Odd labelling with shiraz on the front label, shiraz viognier on the back; whatever, a profound and rich bouquet and a complex, full-bodied palate offering all the usual spice/licorice/pepper notes woven through sumptuous black fruits, tannins and oak in support. Guigal lookalike. Screwcap. 13.7% alc. Rating 96 Drink 2030 $48 Date Tasted Aug 10 James Halliday Wine Companion

The second vintage of this emerging cool climate style. A beautifully balanced wine, scented with ripe red fruits, florals and spice, seasoned with a touch a cedary oak, deeply flavoured through the rich, peppery palate.

Ravensworth’s Bryan Martin is assistant winemaker to Tim Kirk at Clonakilla, the Canberra region’s (and Australia’s?) master of the Shiraz Viognier blend. Bryan’s wine seems more influenced by the white Viognier than Clonakilla’s version, but its pretty good all the same. Penguin Good Wine Guide 2007

This wine opened up amazingly perfumed, so much so that it smelt like a dessert wine, but given a day of airing it settled right down and turned into something really good. Perfumed aromas of dark fruit, cherry, licorice, spice, jasmine and creamy vanilla oak. Initially plenty of apricot and florals but given time the flamboyant viogner influence retreats discreetly into the background. On the palate medium bodied with a mix of red and black fruits, spice, vanilla cream and some meaty savoury flavours. Beautiful smooth fine grained tannins. It feels lively and well balanced with a supple texture. Long spicy stonefruit finish. Lots of charm and complexity. Rated : 93 Points; Drink : 2008 - 2016; Gary Walsh, Winorama

Smells fabulous. Spicy, fragrant, sweet and interesting. It tastes pretty good too - of dark cherries, soy, plums, woodspice and and slippery-sweet apricots. Beautiful, ripe, fine tannin. Great elegance, structure and balance. This is really bonza. Drink: 2008-2012. 92 points. Campbell Mattinson – The Winefront

Vigorous, juicy, quality wine, full of galloping flavour. It races through the mouth and sucks you back for more (I swear officer, it was the wine's fault). Lots of spice, lots of aniseed-like flavour, flashes of lavender and vanilla and racy, lacy tannins. A complete wine, and a lovely wine. 92/100 Campbell Mittinson The Big Red Wine Book 

Deep purple red in colour. Rich, ripe and jubey blackcurrants and plums with cool fresh minty notes and cedary oak. A fullbodied wine with an immediate up front fruit impact. Showing rich, sweet flesh but finishing leaner with fine powdery tannins. Certainly a wine to cellar for the medium term, up to 5-7 years. Try with Game pie.

Attractive colour and bouquet, with red and blue fruits providing a framework for gentle spices and a touch of the herbs of Provence; medium-bodied with a cedary edge, the fruit is concentrated and tightly wound, with a long, supple and fine-grained tannin conclusion; the regional touch of mint sits seamlessly with the fruit. Rating 93 points Price $24.95, drink to 2018, Cork; James Halliday's Value wines of the week.

Gumpr was the original owner of the Salopian Inn adjacent to our McLaren Vale vineyards. The wine is crafted to present excellent fruit definition and length and typifies both the Shiraz fruit and the McLaren Vale region. Richard Hamilton is the fifth generation of his family to be involved in winemaking.

Deep dark red with attractive crimson hues. Rich round ripe blood plum fruit with a splash of black pepper and mint, enhanced with the oak derived spice characters of vanilla, cinnamon and cedar. Ripe and rich berry fruit flavours surround a tight palate of long, elegant tannins and soft acidity to give a full flavoured wine of excellent persistence. 8-10 years

2007 was an early vintage that produced crops much below the average yield expected in McLaren Vale formed very flavoursome wines. The majority of this wine was selected from fruit grown on our Farm and Little Road blocks grown between McLaren Vale and Willunga. Just over 20% of the blend was taken off skins after five days and finished ferment in new oak. The remainder was pressed just prior to the completion of fermentation and oak matured after malo- lactic fermentation had completed. Components of the wine received several 'workings' to soften the tannins. On final blending, 4% Grenache was incorporated to fill out the texture, and the subsequent blend received a light egg white fining before bottling

A new label design for an old vineyard name tricking sub editors into inserting the missing 'e'; a very substantial, full-bodied wine, but with more focus than the Leconfield brother of this wine. Good value. Screwcap. 14.5% alc. Rating 90 Points; Drink 2016 $17.95 Date Tasted Feb 09 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2010

Exceptional Langtons Classification. The Rockford wineworks and apparatus on Krondorf Road at Tanunda date back to the 1850s. The artisanal proprietors employ traditional techniques to assemble one of the nation's most singularly commanding wines. Parcels of the best dry grown old vine Shiraz, some of which were planted in the nineteenth century, from a select cabal of growers, operating vineyards in the Barossa, Kalimna and Ebenezer, Moppa Springs and the Eden Valley, are treated to an ancient basket press followed by vinfication in old fashioned open fermentation vessels.

The batches are matured in a selection of mostly well seasoned French and American oak barrels, before a rigorous selection to determine the final assemblage. Deeply coloured wine. A dense bouquet of aromatic dark fruits and berries with a twist of spice before the most engaging palate of reductions, power and richness over background oak and complex spice.

Fruit for this wine was sourced from the McLaren Vale. Despite wet weather in December, conditions were cool and dry between January and March allowing the winemakers to harvest the fruit uninterrupted. Will continue to reward with careful cellaring over the short to medium term.

This wine was matured in a combination of new American, French & seasoned oak for 10 months. Deep, dark plum red with vibrant purple hues. Fragrant dark plums, licorice and dark chocolate, with hints of raspberry and spice. A richly structured vibrant palate with generous lashing of dark plums, licorice and chocolate, enlivened by vibrant raspberry, cherry and subtle spice notes. Ripe supple tannins carry the fruit towards a long mouthwatering finish.

Trophy ~ Best Shiraz Premium Class ~ National Wine Show Of Australia 2011
Top Gold ~ National Wine Show Of Australia 2011
Gold ~ Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2011
Gold ~ Cowra Wine Show 2011
Gold ~ NZ International Wine Show 2011

Medium purple-crimson; a liquid portrait of the region, with lush blackberry/plum fruit, dark chocolate and soft tannins all filling the mouth, but without any aggression. Classic now or later - even much later - style. Price: $19.99. Drink: 2020; 94 Points; James Halliday

Full into winter, Cuisine magazine has released the timely results of their N.Z. Syrah and Australian Shiraz tastings in the July 2011 Issue. Tasting the Australian Shiraz wines, it was noted the styles of Shiraz were changing ever so slightly towards elegance. The popularity of the Aussie Shiraz style showing "plenty of ripeness, generous flavour, good depth and body, and lovely comforting warmth” making the "perfect winter-weight red wines” is still there, but it was suggested that Aussie winemakers are noticing and respecting the fruit definition seen in Kiwi styles of Syrah. The ‘Top 5' Aussie Shiraz wines, all five star rated are: Rosemount ‘District Release' McLaren Vale Shiraz 2008, Thorn-Clarke ‘Shotfire' Barossa Shiraz 2009, Yalumba Eden Valley Shiraz/Viognier 2008, Shingleback ‘D Block Reserve' McLaren Vale Shiraz 2006 and Chapel Hill McLaren Vale Shiraz 2008.

Deep purple with magenta hues. Think plum tart, dark cherries, blackberry compote and anything in between. Observe the complexity of the dark red fruit characters and the offering of caramel, vanilla, cedar box and liquorice. There is a true vibrancy in this wine as well as being generous and round with soft tannins. The fruits carry on to the palate following through with a subtle spiciness on the finish. The Yearling Shiraz has been specially made to enjoy now.

Wow. A Coonawarra red from 2009 already. Lovely juicy, jubey black fruit, a little pepper and menthol with youthful floral lift. It’s medium bodied, clean, purely fruited and delicious to drink. At this early stage, a lot like stuffing your face with fresh juicy mixed berries. Attractive shapely tannin and plenty of energy. Excellent value. Rated : 90 Points; Tasted : Jun10 Alcohol : 13.5% Price : $15 Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2011 - 2014 By Gary Walsh; The Wine Front

Healthy colour; a lively bouquet and palate driven by black cherry and blackberry fruit plus a dusting of spice; subtle oak and good length and balance. Very good value. 89 points, drink to 2016, $15, Screwcap, 13.5% alc Value; James Halliday Wine Companion

Membership of the St. Bernard’s Old Collegians’ Association is bestowed upon all of those who have attended the School. The Old Collegians is an association run by Old Boys specifically for Old Boys, it is of little surprise to note that the number of Old Collegians taking part in its activities of one kind or another is large and always growing. The Association aims to facilitate commutation, connection and support between all who have had the pride to where the blue, black and gold. This includes providing opportunities for those that have graduated from the college, as well as those that are yet to become ‘Old Collegians’; those boys still currently attending the college.

The SBOCA Clairvaux Shiraz is crafted from quality grapes sourced from selected vineyards in South Eastern Australia. Exhibiting true varietal fruit flavours, the wine is a classic expression of Australia's best red wine variety. Approachable, food friendly and great value, it is a classic varietal expressions with Australian style. This wine is dark crimson in colour, showcasing lush dark berry and plum fruit flavours, with a savoury tannin profile and supportive oak finish. Blended from a number of regions and vineyards, read more...fruit is harvested according to flavour development and vine condition. The wine is aged in oak for 10 months and then bottled prior to the next harvest.

The SBOCA wine series is bottled exclusively for the St Bernards Old Collegians Association and each wine celebrates the artwork of a current or past student. The artist of the 2009 vintage is Matthew Lucente.

All proceeds from the sale of this wine go back to SBOCA.

From two blocks of superior vines grown to the McLaren Flat estate, hand planted by the Scarpantoni brothers in the early 1970s. Brothers Block claimed Australia's most illustrious award, the highly coveted Jimmy Watson trophy in 2007 for vintage 2006. A tremendously well received wine throughout the years, claiming a multitude of prestigious awards. A luscious full bodied Cabernet wine which exudes intense bouquets of blackcurrant and mint, exhibiting a richer more layered style, showing strong regionality and compelling varietal definition

omenico Scarpantoni worked for Thomas Hardy at Tintara, later becoming vineyard manager for Seaview in the McLaren Vale. Domenico was responsible for the contoured vineyards that Seaview were renowned for in the 1960s. Vines on Brothers Block are grown to a terroir of deep, free draining sandy soil over ironstone subsoils which impart a luscious red fruit character and distinctive Cabernet expression to the wine. At harvest the grapes are picked based on their developing flavour profiles and fermented in four tonne batches. All parcels are kept separate throughout vinification, barrel fermented and matured up to sixteen months in a combination of new and seasoned French oak hogsheads until assemblage
 
Colour is a deep, ferrous red. A complex bouquet of blackcurrant, mint and spice with hints of sweet, toasty vanillin oak. The palate is soft and round with elegant, well integrated fruit and oak leading to a long, persistent finish. It’s big and fruity, stylish and dry, with rich berry fruit flavours, integrated oak and plush lined tannins. A McLaren Vale Cabernet like no other, the perfect accompaniment to meats and fine cheese.

Made from 80- to 90-year-old vines, the Shiraz Marcus Old Vine was aged two years in old French and American wood. A classic Barossa bouquet of roasted meats, blackberries, pepper, cassis, and chocolate scents is followed by a dense, full-bodied, unctuously-textured, chewy, full throttle Shiraz to enjoy over the next 10-12 years. Sadly, there are only 120 cases. Kudos to this new project from a fifth generation Barossa grower who had the foresight to employ David Powell. Robert Parker

The blockbuster 2003 Shiraz Marcus Old Vine (from a vineyard that merges with one of Torbreck’s renowned Run Rig sites) was aged in 25% new and 75% old French oak. Its black/purple hue is followed by lovely notes of melted tar, blackberries, pepper, tapenade, and earth. Rich, full-bodied, opulent, and long, it is a terrific wine to drink over the next 10-15 years. Wine Advocate #167 (Oct 2006) Robert Parker 97 points  Drink 2006-2021 $US85.00

The legend of Seppelt began 150 years ago at Seppeltsfield in the Barossa Valley. The founder, Joseph Seppelt and his eldest son Benno, established a continuing tradition of making the best wines from Australia's leading viticultural regions. The winemaking team at Seppelt were so excited about the quality of the Bendigo shiraz in 2003 that it was decided to release it as a single region wine, to sit alongside the famous Seppelt St Peters Shiraz. This will allow consumers to see the stylistic differences between Great Western and Bendigo shiraz. The 2006 Seppelt Benno Bendigo Shiraz is the fourth vintage of this wine and continues to show the quality of Shiraz from this region. The wine is named Benno Bendigo Shiraz in honour of Benno Seppelt's belief in Victoria as a wine growing region.

This wine was matured for 18 months in French oak - 50% new and 50% seasoned. Deep red with purple hues. An enticing amalgamation of vibrant dark plum, briar fruits, hints of spice and cedary oak. A rich balanced palate of plum, black fruits and dark chocolate notes layered with supporting oak. Firm, velvety tannins support this intense medium to full bodied wine. 14% Alcohol.

Lively dark fruits leap out of the glass; the tannin management is wonderful, as the palate is quite velvety, long and has a very attractive savoury twist to the finish. Screwcap. 14% alc. Rating 95 Points; Drink 2020 $54.99 Date Tasted Aug 08 James Halliday Wine Companion

An excellent dark-fruited, regional wine whose deep, spicy expression of plums and blackberries reveals smoky undertones of charcuterie meats and minerals, dark chocolate/cedar oak and cloves. Framed by fine, grainy tannin, its deep, sumptuous palate drips with intense, concentrated flavour, delivering a lingering dark-fruited core of fruit, finishing long, mineral and drying.(18.6/95, YTD 2018-2026+) Jeremy Oliver

Deriving its name from the picturesque Mount Chalambar near Great Western in central Victoria, Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz has an excellent pedigree, having been made since 1953. Originally crafted by the legendary Colin Preece and labelled as Chalambar Burgundy, this wine has become one of the most sought after Seppelt releases each year due to its consistency, quality and value. Sourced from the Grampians and Bendigo regions in Western and Central Victoria, there is a great balance of violets, pepper and spice from the Grampians fruit that provides contrasting elegance to the strength of Bendigo's dark plum fruit. Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz highlights the benefits of blending these distinctive wine regions. The result is a style that is approachable on release with the structure to age gracefully if carefully cellared.

Deep, dark red. An intense and complex nose of dark berry aromas, sweet spice and dark chocolate nuances with underlying, integrated cedary oak. This dense medium to full bodied wine has fleshy palate weight with flavours of spicy dark berry fruits and chocolate, supported by velvety textural tannins and cedary oak. The finish is long with a savoury complexity. This outstanding example of Chalambar will be enjoyed on release, yet will continue to reward over many years to come after careful cellaring.

Deep crimson-purple; the expressive black fruits and spices of the bouquet are followed by a full-bodied palate, with fruit, oak and tannins all having their say, but none obscuring the others. Will coast through two decades at least. Grampians/Bendigo. To 2030. Rating 95 Points; James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion Edition 2011

Medium bodied but firm with a stream of lightly chalky tannins running through it. It’s a little meaty, with pepper spice and some mint sitting on top of boysenberry and plum fruit. Has something like malty Turkish dried apricot sweetness and subtle vanilla oak providing a bit of prettiness. And it’s a pretty serious wine for the price too, and one that’s sure to cellar pretty well. Rated : 93 Points; Tasted : Jan10/Jul10; Alcohol : 13.5%; Price : $26.99; Closure : Screwcap; Drink : 2010 - 2018; Gary Walsh; The Wine Front

Chalambar has a phenomenally consistent track record - and it shows no signs of letting up. Recent releases could be accused of putting complexity before drinkability, but the quality of the 2008 outshines any such trend. Sweeter, muskier, flashier oak than is usual for a young Chalambar with gorgeously fresh, grainy, cherry, plummy fruit flavour lying beneath. Has lightness on its feet, minus and corresponding lack of flavour. Nice fine tannin. Elegance and obviousness at once - you could say. However you want to put it, it’s a very tasty wine.  Price: $24.95; Alcohol: 13.5%; Screwcap; Rating: 94 points; Value: 5 Stars; Campbell Mattinson & Gary Walsh; Source: The Big Red Wine Book 2010/11