Founded in 1997 by Kevin Mitchell, a member of one of the valley’s long established wine families; Kilikanoon has quickly gained the attention of influential critics on both sides of the Pacific. Kevin Mitchell says: “I try to create a full-bodied style of wine. I like reds that are rich, round and chocolaty, wines that can be drunk young and will also improve for a number of years in the cellar”. Robert Parker Jr, the US critic considered the world’s number one wine taster, declared last year “this is one of the Clare Valley’s finest wineries”.

Crafted from old vine fruit grown along the Golden Hillside in Leasingham, it continues to display the opulence, regional character and varietal power the valley is so renown for.

Dig, dig and dig, and you still won’t get to the bottom of this highly concentrated and deeply intense Shiraz. So much fruit and palate power yet it’s been harnessed so cleverly to create a velvety smooth and textured multi-layered wine. You get all that dark chocolate and black fruit richness with a decent hit of oak at just the right weight. This one is for the cellar, but oh my, just one more sip please. Tasted: December 2021; Now to 2032; Price: $96.00; Rating: 97 Points; Ray Jordan

Long an iconic wine, particularly among American critics, this has revealed a lighter shade of late. The fruit, no longer desiccated. Dense and impressive, if this is your schtick. Powerful, sure. But energetic, long and far from drying. An arsenal of sexy oak meets liquorice back strap, smoked meats, blue to black fruits and a squeegee of anise-scented acidity. Drink to: 2031; Price: $96.00; Date Tasted: June 2021; Alcohol: 14.5%; Rating: 95 Points; Ned Goodwin MW; James Halliday Wine Companion