TARDIEU-LAURENT Cuvee Speciale, Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Mount Pleasant 1921 Vines Old Paddock Vineyard Shiraz, Hunter Valley The Mount Pleasant Block series calls on the hallowed vines planted by Maurice OSheathe Old Paddock (1921) and Rosehill (1946). The series also showcases limited quantities of wine from vines familiar to those who visit the winery, the Old Hill. Planted 1880, the vines provided fruit to OShea as hewed his reputation from and into the bedrock of the Australian wine story. Maurice O'Shea planted the Old Paddock vineyard when he took ownership of Mount Pleasant in 1921. These original 100-years-old vines produce exquisite fruit for the single-vineyard 1921 Vines Old Paddock Shiraz.

The trailblazers of the Adelaide Hills have created another outstanding wine. A superb expression of modern cool-climate Shiraz; Shaw & Smith is elegantly spicy and brimming with supple red-fruit flavours matched by fine tannins. An absolute ripper.

The Glaetzer family have been part of the Barossa winemaking scene since 1888 and now Ben takes over the reigns and produces Shiraz of the utmost intensity and concentration. Named after the ancient Egyptian god Amon-Ra who was the champion of the poor and troubled and was central to personal piety, the temple of Amon-Ra is believed to be the first to plant a vineyard to produce wine for the citizens of the temple. This incarnation is rich, full-bodied and viscous to the palate, yet with sublime oak integration and a balance on the back palate that is quite lifted allowing it to be paired with many meals and a prime candidate for medium to long term cellaring.

Henschke have in recent years begun to identify and single out great quality parcels of Shiraz fruit that deserves to be bottled seperately and released as part of their Vineyard Selection. The Tappa Pass Shiraz is sourced from old low yielding Barossa vineyards that shows amazing depth and concentration. Rich, lush and intense it will develop further complexity with bottle age.

Righteous to be called a true Barossa Shiraz; Teusner FG Shiraz is bold, packed with intense black fruits, mocha and sweet spices on the nose. Great balance in oak use, giving the wine structured tannins and extra vanilla oak flavour as the back bone on the palate. Hand picked grapes from one of the oldest vines in Barossa. This is certainly one of those wines that could impress!

Old vines Shiraz grapes were used in the making of this beautifully crafted Torbreck The Struie Shiraz. With the blend of two great regions, Eden and Barossa Valley, the flavours and aromas intensified yet still worked harmoniously together. A more elegant exotic floral aromas are supported by the more brooding notes of tar and chocolate on the nose. Combined with luscious flavours of stew dark fruits and structured tannins, this wine has bold and silky smooth finish.

Colour is deep red. The nose shows aniseed, tar, FruChocs and spicy oak. The fine palate entry has mulberry, cranberry, aniseed and liquorice flowing delicately with Rhone-like spicy, chewy, savoury tannins.