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Krondorf 121 Settlers Barossa Valley Shiraz The 121 Settlers Old Vine Shiraz is sourced from a single site at the cooler southern extremity of Barossa, in St. Jakobi, abutting the western ridge of the Lyndoch sub-zone. Here, a conflation of red clay and loam promotes earlier ripening, a mitigating factor against inclement weather and the growing risk of early season frosts that Climate Change has foisted upon us. As importantly these dense soils imbue the wines with a firm tannic carriage, ensuring passage to greater complexity in the cellar, while serving as a structural harness for typically exuberant Barossan fruit. The average age of the vines is in excess of 35 years, with gnarled octogenarian survivors among them. Yields are inherently low as the established root systems reach deep below the soils substrata in search of water and the requisite nutrients drawn through it. Yet the fruit that is produced is immaculate: vibrant, concentrated and firmly stamped with the regional postcode of generosity. The winemaking is dutifully sensitive, chaperoning the fruit from vineyard to bottle with minimal intrusion: gravity feeds, gentle pigeage and 16-18 months in used, rather than new, oak. The result is one of dark fruit allusions from plum to blackberry, underlain by a potpourri of spice including black pepper, clove and star anise, all melded to a pungent thread of mineral. The oak is apparent, but only as an adjunct to propel the finish long. As with many Barossan greats, the fruit weight allows for early appeal, albeit, this is a wine that will easily cellar for 15 years onwards.

John Duval, famously known as the craftsman of the mighty Penfolds Grange, continues to further forge his reputation as a maker of great Shiraz. 'Eligo' from the latin: 'To pick out, select or choose or choose the best' is the flagship wine of the John Duval stable with its main aim to produce a Shiraz with structure and an elegant expression of its terrior. Multi layered with lashes of dark berry fruit, the wine is intense yet still quite restrained. An excellent Barossan Shiraz!

Classified by Langton's as one of Australia's top wines, the 2005 vintage of Rolf Binder's flagship Hanisch Shiraz is one of the finest ever produced. Rated a stellar 96 points by James Halliday, the careful maintenance of the Hanisch vineyard, ensuring on only highest quality grapes go into the Shiraz really comes into play. An exceedingly rich and intense palate with a brick wall core of fruit. Spices, cloves and dark chocolate all melted together with excellent vibrant tannins that lift into the wine in perfect harmony. A top vintage that can be cellared for many years to come.

Aromas of black berries, anise, mocha, pepper and spice. Cigar box and savoury notes play a supporting role. Dark berries, coffee and chocolate feature boldly on the palate. Great balance has been achieved between the fruit, acid, oak and tannins. The fruit for our Gregor Shiraz is sourced from Shiraz vines planted in 1988 on our home block high in the Barossa Ranges. The soils up here are rocky, yellow podzolic matter over clays and we utilise double wire trellising in our vineyard.The fruit is handpicked before being placed on racks and semi dried in the style of the famous Amarone wines of Italy. The grapes are then naturally fermented in open vats before being aged in new French oak 1350L vats and puncheons for a period of 24 months. Bottled unfiltered. Hobbs lavish care and craft on their grapes in order to make exceptional wines. Yet as much as considered winemaking counts towards the quality of the final products, soil and climate play a vital part in defining the character of each vintage even before the grapes are picked. The rugged and beautiful Barossa Ranges provide unique conditions for grape growing. Like most of natures gifts, their beauty is more than skin deep, the secrets of soil and seasons bringing so much to the wines Hobbs make. The Hobbs vineyard is situated at the top of the ranges, overlooking Flaxmans Valley. Some of their vines have thrived for a century in this idyllic hillside setting, their grapes only becoming richer and more distinctive as the decades roll by. To taste any Hobbs wine is to savour the very essence of where they live.

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.

On the nose, we find a broad depth of dark and red fruits, concentrated plums and blackberry supported by a backbone of elegant oak with underlying nuances of cedar and spice. Fruit carries through on the palate with luscious berry fruits and graphite, with amazing structure from the red clay soil. Fine, velvety tannins carry through on the lengthy finish. Will benefit from decanting. Drinks well now, or will benefit from cellaring for a further 10 plus years.

St Hugo is a story of legacy and reinvention, their team honour the traditions of winemaking legend Hugo Gramp. Grandson of pioneering vigneron Johann Gramp and founder of Gramp & Sons winery in 1847. Bringing his historical vision of not only the brand but the Barossa into the modern world. St Hugo pays tribute to its namesake Hugo, and each vintage they make is in celebration of his love of the land he grew up on, from their first vintage in 1980. The St Hugo wines showcase deep respect for the grapes grown on their sites by turning them into wines with structure, power and elegance. The wines are crafted to be part of your celebrations with loved ones all over the world – from their vineyards to your table. Sourced from a single block on the Fabal vineyard in the north-west corner of the Barossa Valley, vines are grown on a very shallow red brown topsoil layer over an alkaline subsoil. The Fabal is a Barossa Shiraz at its finest, showcasing the distinctive sub-regional characteristics of fruit selected from the north western corner of the Barossa Valley. Dark and structural with underlying minerlaity, this is a wine with a long life ahead of it.

Founded in 1997 by Keith and Alison Hentschke, Hentley Farm embarked on a remarkable journey with a singular vision: to create exceptional single estate wines that showcase the distinct character of the Barossa Valley. Prior to this endeavour, Keith's extensive credentials in Agricultural Science and Wine Marketing, earned through his studies at Roseworthy College, set the stage for his pursuit of excellence in winemaking. During his years of preparation, Keith diligently explored the region, seeking guidance from local winemakers and viticulturalists who pointed him in the direction of the Barossa's red/brown soil over limestone. Armed with this invaluable knowledge, he strategically located the finest parcels of land using an old soil map from the 1950s. This quest led them to a picturesque mixed farming property nestled among the rolling hills along the banks of Greenock Creek in the western region of the Barossa. Here, they discovered a remarkable diversity of soil types, varying aspects, and altitudes, forming the foundation for their winemaking pursuit. In 2004, Hentley Farm expanded its estate with the acquisition of a neighbouring vineyard that shared the coveted natural amphitheatre of rolling hills surrounding the property. This addition further enhanced the diversity of the site, solidifying Hentley Farm's position as a single estate spanning 150 acres of pure vinous potential. Keith's background as an agricultural scientist played a crucial role in the meticulous exploration and understanding of the land before the planting process could commence at Hentley Farm. With a keen eye for detail, he delved into the unique characteristics of the site, discovering the intriguing influence of altitude differentials and variations in the east-west aspect, which resulted in unexpected microclimates. Collaborating with local viticulturalists, Keith embarked on an extensive endeavour to explore the diverse soils present on the property, employing the excavation of forty soil pits throughout the site. The extraordinary diversity of soil, aspect, and altitude presented both an opportunity and a challenge that demanded careful planning and precision in the vineyard layout. Factors such as varietal selection, clone selection, row spacing, orientation, trellising methods, and water management were meticulously considered. As a result, Keith and his team devised the concept of "viticultural blocks," dividing the single vineyard into nine distinct blocks based on similarities in soil type, aspect, and climate. Each block was further subdivided into rows to account for variations in soil, aspect, and microclimates. The vineyards were planted with a selection of grape varieties, with Shiraz comprising 70% of the plantings, followed by Grenache (17%), Cabernet Sauvignon (10%), Zinfandel (2%), and a small parcel of Viognier (0.5%). In 2002, the first wines from the property were released, showcasing the exceptional results of Keith's meticulous planning and the team's dedication to crafting wines of distinct character and quality. With his tenure beginning in 2008, Head Winemaker Andrew Quin has played a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of the vineyard, dedicating himself to the creation of contemporary wines that embody the essence of traditional Barossa varieties. Andrew's unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence has left an indelible mark on the vineyard's evolution, ensuring that each bottle reflects the harmonious marriage of time-honoured grape varieties with a contemporary winemaking approach. With a keen focus on showcasing varietal diversity, the wines of Hentley Farm captivate with their allure and accessibility in their youth, while possessing the depth and structure necessary for extended cellaring. Andrew's dedicated stewardship has firmly established Hentley Farm as a prominent boutique winery in Australia, garnering acclaim from around the world, including the prestigious title of 2015 James Halliday Winery of the Year. Every bottle released from Hentley Farm tells a unique tale of the vineyard and the vintage, with production volumes limited by the boundaries of the estate and the conditions of each specific harvest. Hentley Farm Black Beauty Sparkling Shiraz is a traditional Barossa indulgence, and their Seppeltsfield vineyard is the perfect fruit source to produce this homage to the style; rich in flavour with a delightful air of elegance. This sparkling shiraz has a profile of blackcurrant, blueberry, raspberry, cured meats, peanut brittle, and freshly baked brioche. There is a fine even bead with soft tannins together with balanced acidity and a dry finish.