The Old Vine Syrah patch was planted in the 1930s and is on a slope of the property with a westerly aspect. These old gnarly vines are planted in heavily decomposed ironstone and quartz. The style of wine is completely individual and the winemaking team always comment on how light the style is and how exotic the spices are in this vineyard. The spices come across like incense mixed with deeply aromatic and smoky lapsang oolong tea. Exotic characters such as sandalwood, cocoa powder, sarsaparilla and cola elements top the roast meat and flinty, strawberry and cream palette of this wine. The lighter frame on this style is highly attractive and the intoxicating spices combine to create something highly exotic.

DANDELION VINEYARDS Firehawk Of Mclaren Vale Shiraz, McLaren Vale

The best parcels of wine that make up the Coppermine Road Cabernet mostly come from a rare low-yielding clone which is characterized by its violet and anise perfume, concentration and great acidity.

This is a wine of great generosity and depth. The nose exhibits an abundance of purple fruits, mulberries and plums - with a mix of baking spices including nutmeg, cinnamon and star anise. The palate is fleshy and juicy with an almost velvet like texture. The Grenache adds fruit character and balanced acidity, the Shiraz fills out the wine and delivers early structure while the Mourvedre provides red fruits and dried herb notes and provides a core of fine tannins.

2015 Clarendon Hills Onkaparinga Grenache, Purpled crimson. Magically entwined with elegant hints of cherry, raspberry, terracotta, cocoa, walnut, and Turkish delight. The flourishing perfume continues to rise with an ever-present core appearing as the seamless spine. Harmoniously, these characters gracefully nuance, reinforce and offer evolution. A harmonious composition of spice, fruit, glycerin and chalky velvet produce an aristocratic experience that is nearly limitless in its depth of expression. The palate is bright and taught with natural acid however it is incredibly layered and deeply concentrated with silky smooth extract. The impressive purity of the fruit, alone , ushers superlatives however it is the fine boned and seamlessly structured palate, coupled with an air of effortless power that remains the most haunting element to this exceptional old vine Grenache.

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.