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.

Mitolo Wines is a family owned business, borne of and led by the founder and owner Frank Mitolo's vision; to create a range of wines of individuality, integrity and utmost quality. The G.A.M. is deep purple, the nose is an intense combination of smoked herbs, liquorice and blackcurrants leading to a full bodied palate with notes of cassis and cracked pepper. Premium McLaren Vale at its best.

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.

96 points James Halliday: Deep crimson-purple; spice, tar, liquorice and sombre black fruits on the bouquet lead into an intense, full-bodied palate that catches you by surprise with its (relative) lightness of foot. Savoury tannins are there in abundance, as is French oak, but with sufficient protein on hand, you could enjoy a glass (possibly even two) of this wine. 94 points DMWP: This bold , dark and beautiful shiraz still retains a youthful purple edge. It has density, weight and depth in barrow loads. An amazing array of flavours including vanilla, cacao, the blackest of blackberry, dark chocolate, black olive, licorice, spice, and grainy, cedary tannin are easily identified in a big, big, wine. This will live for a very long time. It's a thumper! 92 points eRobert Parker: From a steep, rocky vineyard, the 2013 Hickinbotham Syrah is still quite stern and tannic. Hints of mint accent black cherry fruit in this full-bodied, concentrated wine that still needs a couple more years to come around.

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 name ‘Ovitelli’ is a portmanteau of ‘ovi’ and ‘vitelli’ meaning ‘egg’ and ‘life’ respectively. The Ovitelli Grenache Yangarra's most perfumed and elegant Grenache from the sands at Yangarra. The vibrant fruit of the dry-grown 1946 planted bush vines is rewarded with a long, luxurious ferment and a whole autumn on skins in big ceramic eggs. This is their most elegant Grenache with great emphasis on perfume, tension and precision. The Yangarra Estate Ovitelli Grenache 2021 is a wine of exceptional quality, sourced from a single block of the most perfumed and elegant Grenache from the sands at Yangarra. The vibrant fruit of those dry-grown 1946 bush vines is rewarded with a long, luxurious ferment and a whole autumn on skins in big ceramic eggs. The 2021 growing season was favorable, with good winter rains, a mild flowering and fruit set period and continued spring rainfall to ensure a healthy canopy. Yields 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. The freshness and bright natural acidity of the fruit were a real feature. Hand-picked on March 24th-25th and selectively berry sorted, the grapes were 100% destemmed, crushed and tipped into 675L ceramic eggs. The fermentation occurred in the eggs and remained on skins for 133 days. No pressings were used in this wine. No oak was used, and it was matured exclusively in the eggs for a total of 13 months. The wine is certified organic and biodynamic. In the glass, the Yangarra Estate Ovitelli Grenache 2021 is a bright, clear ruby color, with aromas of red cherries, raspberries and a hint of spice. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, with flavors of red fruit, herbs and a touch of earthiness. The tannins are soft and well-integrated, and the finish is long and satisfying.