Passing Clouds was the name co-founders Graeme Leith and Sue Mackinnon gave to their small family owned winery when in 1974 having tirelessly hand planted their central Victorian Bendigo vineyard, were hoping for rain. Rain clouds would come, threaten and pass, and on old gold diggings and a deserted creek bed, they planted Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

Now under the watch of Cameron Leith there is a focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from their new home in the Macedon Ranges which when coupled with their ongoing traditional Passing Clouds offerings from Bendigo compounds to form a formidable stable of wines.

This Bendigo Shiraz Cabernet comes from a cooler vintage that presented a number of challenges to winemakers. In the end, though, the fruit turned out to be pretty good. It’s a blend of 60% Shiraz and 40% Cabernet from three vineyards. The colour is deep reddy black. On the nose, you get the classically bright plum and mulberry characters with a touch of earthy, dusty savouriness sitting beneath. There’s a little hint of slightly toasty oak, which is quite appealing. It’s generous and plush but medium-bodied with firm chalky tannins and an impressive, polished finish. The oak has been well handled and sits comfortably within the frame. Yes, you could cellar this for a few years, but I reckon up to 10 would just about be ideal. An excellent wine. Drink to: 2025-2040; Price: $34.00; Rating: 94 Points; Ray Jordan

Intriguing aromas of wet steel, iodine and bitumen, yet the full-bodied palate is saturated with dark fruit infused with menthol, thyme and licorice. It’s ripe and bolshie with plush tannins and a certain appeal. Date: Feb 2024; Alcohol: 14.8%; Price: $34.00; Drink to: 2033; Rating: 91 Points; James Halliday Wine Companion

Full ruby red hue. Blackberry, iodine and wakame aromatics. Full bodied with a ripe plushness at the core. Black fruits, ironstone and dried herbs fill through the middle and it’s carried to a good length by firm, ripe tannins. A well balanced blend that celebrates both varieties best characteristics. Rating: 91 Points; The Real Review

It’s splendidly ripe and fragrant on the nose, showing dark plum, fennel, vanilla, and assorted nut aromas, leading to a succulent palate displaying a plump mouthfeel and silky texture, beautifully framed by polished tannins. It’s harmonious and generous with a lengthy, delectable finish. At its best: now to 2034. Rating: 93 Points; Wine Orbit