It was once accepted that only the warmest parts of the Adelaide Hills could adequately ripen shiraz. Now, with cool climate shiraz style in vogue, the dynamics are very different. Vivid crimson; the wine exudes black cherry, blackberry, licorice and spice through every pore; just enough tannins to underwrite development. From Adelaide Hills, SA; Drink to 2015 with wild mushroom ravioli; 94 points, $13.99, Screwcap, 14.9% alc; Halliday’s Top 100 Wines for 2009 – The Weekend Australian November 14-15, 2009

Mike Press has taken the bargain red stakes by storm over the past few years, and he’s continued the form here. This is riper and richer than we’ve previously seen under this label and while personally I’d like to see it tamed back a notch, the quality/value equation is still pretty amazing. A warning though: you have to enjoy the taste and smell of American oak to enjoy these wines; it’s laid on pretty thick.

Vanilla and nougat and then lots of rich, ripe, cherry-plum flavour. All the quality is obvious and up-front and ready to be enjoyed. Delicious wine and clearly a much better wine than the price would suggest. Warm finish and so much oak that it seems varnishy, but given some air it drinks very well. Ripe, grainy tannin folds through the finish. I reckon it needs another 6-12 months to integrate better but for good old-fashioned red drinking, this is right up there once again. Could be worth an extra ‘point’ or two as well, depending on your tastes in oak. Rated : 90 Points Drink : 2010 – 2014 Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front.

On the Mike Press scale, this is a big Shiraz. But don't let its stature or its immediate youthful appeal fool you into the impression that it is either blockbuster or simplistic. It is neither, but at this young age it takes a vigorous double decant and a few hours to really reveal itself. When it does, you will discover a bouquet of stewed plums, prunes, rhubarb and pepper with a dash of milk chocolate oak. The palate is concentrated and powerful with flavours of cherry liqueur dark chocolates at first, then building into deep, layered Satsuma plum and preserved black cherry intensity. Tannins are very fine and structured, and it has the acid freshness to counter its high ripeness. With sufficient time for the fruit to unravel, there is no suggestion of overt alcohol. This will be a faster maturing Mike Press Shiraz, but it will benefit from a year to settle, and a further two to integrate. Another impressive result from Mr Press and, as ever, the value for money is off the scale! Screw Cap; 14.9%; 92 points; Tyson Stelzer