Clarendon Hills consider themselves vineyard expressionists and seek to portray the story of the individual vineyard 'Terroir' within their wines. Clarendon Hills collection of the old vine vineyards in sub-regions of McLaren Vale assists in defining their international pedigree for making world class wines that rate extremely highly among the international press. Among the 9 single vineyards of Syrah is the Moritz vineyard Syrah which is located within the Kangarilla sub region of McLaren Vale, South Australia. All of the wines at Clarendon Hills are made by hand and are crafted using only natural processes and ingredients to an extremely high standard. Consistent Moritz Syrah characters include smoke and blue berry fruits with black olive tapenade and iodine like mineral resonance throughout the silky palate. The Moritz Syrah is a part of the Clarendon Hills premier cru classification and generally drinks best after 8-10 years in the cellar, when its terroir is formally demonstrated.

Allinda is a tiny Yarra Valley estate, and you won't find their wines in too many places, because the quantities are so small. But when you do find them, make sure you stock up, because they are really wonderful. This sumptuous Syrah really impresses with medium to full bodied intense ripe flavour and natural acidity. Ripeness of fruit in the warmish 2016 February has lifted the flavour profile into the mulberry and plum zone so expect less white pepper than other Yarra Valley Syrahs. Allinda has kept it simple with healthy soils, healthy vines, some of the better old school practices, a dash of modern technique and a whole lotta good old winemaking sense. High-quality boutique wine with stacks of Gold wins!

Sourced from a vineyard nestled in the foothills of the cool southern vales of the Yarra Valley where the grey loam soils show seams of deep red volcanic clay, the 2015 Seville syrah is handpicked, fermented with a high proportion of whole bunches and receives no additions other than a small amount of sulphur dioxide at picking and bottling. It is then aged in older French barrels before being bottled unfiltered and unfined.

Classic Côtes du Rhône from Famille Perrin: Fruity and fleshy with beautiful tannins. This wine is a blend of Grenache (mainly from our Prýbois vineyard in Orange), Syrah from further north (from our vineyard in Vinsobres) and Mourvýdre. Produced by the Perrin family, using the same viticultural and wine-making techniques used at Chýteau de Beaucastel.

"Replacing the Petit Chapelle cuvee and first made in 2015, the 2016 Hermitage La Maison Bleue is smoking good. Black fruits, charcoal, powdered rock, currants and chocolate notes all give way to a big, concentrated, impressively structures barrel sample that has tons of potential. I expect the tannin will have integrated by the time this is released, but a few years of bottle age still recommended." - Jeb Dunnuck