McLaren Vale's Dog Ridge is well known for their highly-prized old vines, and these few hand-selected French barrels of DogRidge Shiraz are made exclusively from the pre-clonal Original Plantings at DogRidge from the 1940s. DogRidge is co owned by Dave and Jen Wright, and Fred and Sarah Howard. Dave is the Viticulturist, Fred the winemaker, and they certainly make a winning team!

A new label and new take on a classic. The Eileen Hardy Shiraz is juicy, plump and full of life with a magnificent backbone of tannin and spice without being overbearing. A classic in the making.

In the glass the 2010 S has a black core with a deep red rim. There are elegant aromas of red black fruits, and spicy earthy notes with a hint of grilled meats, graphite and controlled oak. On the palate the fruit continues with rich plums, and blueberries and delicate spice and chocolate which all roll on to a juicy palate with fine tannins that go on ... and on. Smidge recommends drinking this wine betwen 2014 and 2030.

Exceptionally potent and powerful, initially giving the (false) impression its alcohol is more than 14%. Retasting brings it back into perspective, the two varieties bonded, yet each preserving its varietal integrity and structural architecture. A classic Australian blend of exceptional quality, destined to outlive most who taste it.

Yangarra started introducing large format foudre in 2017, and a single block of Shiraz (block 12) started to show its head with a particular style that was very much suited to whole bunch and large format oak. Originally labelled as the "Whole Bunch" Shiraz, the label evolved to become the King's Wood with the first release only in 2017... and what an introduction it was scoring 99 points from James Halliday. The 2019 vintage is excellent. A rare mix of power and restraint. The palate is captivating with its plush, supple, velvety nature. All of the elements are perfectly integrated. Special.

Yangarra Estate is a renowned biodynamic wine farm located in the picturesque McLaren Vale region of South Australia. The winery prides itself on producing exceptional wines solely from its single-vineyard estate, which is dedicated to cultivating the finest grape varieties of the southern Rhone. The unique combination of rare geologies, moderate altitude, abundant sunshine, and cool evening breezes at Yangarra make it an ideal location for growing varieties that thrive in moderate maritime environments. The Yangarra High Sands Vineyard is a source of pride for the estate, having been recognized as one of Young Gun of Wines' 2022 Top 50 Vineyards in Australia. Yangarra is an exceptional single-vineyard estate located in the esteemed Blewitt Springs subregion, situated at the northern edge of the McLaren Vale region in South Australia. The vineyard's unique combination of ancient geology, high altitude, and Mediterranean climate provides the perfect environment for cultivating the finest grape varieties of the southern Rhône. The estate's dedication to sustainable farming practices, including organic and biodynamic farming, ensures that the fruit is of the highest quality and truly reflects the terroir. The resulting wines are complex, elegant and expressive, showcasing the unique characteristics of the vineyard. Yangarra's commitment to producing exceptional wines solely from its single-vineyard estate has earned it a reputation as one of Australia's premier wineries. With a focus on Grenache and other Rhône varieties, the winery is dedicated to producing wines that are a true expression of the terroir. The wines are crafted with minimal intervention, allowing the fruit to shine through and speak for itself. The Yangarra Estate Hickinbotham Vineyard Grenache 2021 is a stunning wine that showcases the exceptional quality of the fruit from the Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard. The favourable growing season, with good winter rains, a mild flowering and fruit set period, and continued spring rainfall to ensure a healthy canopy, resulted in yields that showed good balance between vine vigor and moderate berry size. The ripening period that began late January was very cool, with some welcome rainfall in mid-February. The delayed harvest, with cold nights and mild sunny days, produced excellent fruit ripeness and intensity and the freshness and bright natural acidity of the fruit were a real feature. Hand-picked from the vineyard on the 23rd of March and selectively berry sorted, the grapes were 100% destemmed, crushed and tipped into 1800 L 'cocciopesto' stone egg-shaped amphoras. The fermentation occurred in the amphoras, with a gentle maceration of only wetting the cap. 69% remained on skins in the amphora for 198 days, resulting in a wine that is pure and unadulterated. No pressings are used in this wine, and it was matured exclusively in the amphora for a total of 13 months before being bottled in June 2022. In the glass, the wine is a deep ruby red, with aromas of plush dense red fruit, lavender, white pepper, sour cherries and Amaro bitters. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, with a silky texture and crunchy tannins. The flavours of red fruit, sour cherries and Amaro bitters are complemented by notes of lavender and white pepper, leading to a long and satisfying finish.