The EJ Shiraz is the jewel in Paxton's organic and biodynamic crown. Awarded 95 points in the Halliday Wine Companion 2017, this wine is the result of low yielding vines that are more than a century old. The flavour is elegant and round and the nose offers vanilla, black current and oak.

Though part of the Barossa, the Eden Valley is a slightly cooler climate than the neighbouring Barossa Valley, so generally produce Shiraz that is slightly more elegant in style. That said, the Eden Hall Shiraz is a wine that is not only rich, vibrant and full of life today, it will also hang in for the long haul.

Pacha Mama Shiraz enfolds you in her arms. It's elegant, it's got finesse. In the glass its vibrant plum red in colour, with a complex nose of spiced plums and dark chocolate backed with earth and spice. This wine is soft and fleshy and full of all the good dark fruits; plum and blackcurrant. It's seamless in the mouth with juicy fruit favours on the palate. A light tannic structure, vibrant acid and a long savoury finish.

A masterly crafted Shiraz from some outstanding regions in Australia. Hardys HRB has a complex nose showing dark fruits and well handled oak, and mouth coating tannins lead to a persistent finish.

David Hook's Shiraz is medium bodied, some vibrant characters of spicy red berries and soft rounding tannins with hints of vanilla oak on the palate. Ripe fruits richness with a lengthy finish. A great number to have handy when friends drop by.

Water Wheel is a historic winery located in the traditional wine region of Bendigo in central Victoria. Winemaker Peter Cumming continually produces a Shiraz with aromas of ripe berries, white pepper and chocolate that are also reflected on the palate which also displays attractive regional and varietal character. The depth of fruit and oak balance is excellent. Always a consistent performer, Water Wheel Shiraz is not only enjoyable upon release but is a reliable medium-term cellaring option.

Young guns in the Margaret River scene, Amelia Park actually source their fruit for the Shiraz from Frankland River in the Great Southern wine region. This allows them to produce a Shiraz that has all the fruit hallmarks of Shiraz with a fine structure made famous by region. Lusciously ripe along with an ethereal length, Amelia Park Shiraz ticks all the boxes.

An elegant and fine-boned cool climate Shiraz from the emerging wine region of the Canberra District. The wine is packed with spicy aromatics from pepper and bay leaf to marzipan and violets. Red fruit flavours run to blackberry and beef stock, carried by savoury, grainy tannins.

The Bryson Family vineyard produces superb fruit in the heart of South Australia, which is then handcrafted by winemaker Ben Riggs. Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz is an explosion of ripe dark berry fruits on the palate. Full bodied and ready to go this wine certainly delivers in spades.

Restrained red fruit with a background of menthol, leather and tobacco on the nose leads to a big mouthful of cherries, vanilla and plums with good intensity. A nicely balanced wine, drinking very well.