The wine is gorgeously fruited and fragrant on the nose showing dark fruit richness with smoked game, vanilla, chocolate tart and cedar characters. The palate is concentrated and wonderfully weighted, delivering fabulous fruit intensity and stylish oak infusion, backed by fine chalky tannins, finishing superbly long and sturdy. At its best: now to 2025.

Beguilingly light in colour it has an intensely lifted aromaticity. Primary fruits of raspberry, confectionary, yet then a tantalizing and balancing off-sweet aroma that is more meaty and savoury than sweet. Berry fruit flavours are subtly seasoned with oak's spice, before the mid palate is refreshed with cooling acidity. The acidity carries the wine's flavours through to the palate's end. Heirloom Vineyards was conceived in vintage 2000, when a young winemaking student caught the eye of a silly old wine judge. A love story ensued inspired by two vows: To preserve the best of tradition, the old world of wine and our unique old vineyards and to champion the best clones of each variety planted in the most appropriate sites embracing the principals of organic and biodynamic farming. Seven long vintages of trial and error passed before Heirloom Vineyards could make a wine that was fine enough to pass on to future generations. That is this wine.

ColourDeep red/ purple huesAromaBlackberry and blackcurrant evident at first and followed by satsuma plum characters.PalateHerbaceous, capsicum flavours at the front palate. Blackberry and satsuma plum characters are supported by firm tannins leading to a lingering finish.

Medium bodied, with lots of chocolate and blackberry, sophisticated supple tannins supporting deep fruits and appealing savoury balance.

THISTLEDOWN WINES Sands Of Time Old Vine Single Vineyard Grenache, McLaren Vale

DANDELION VINEYARDS Firehawk Of Mclaren Vale Shiraz, McLaren Vale

A ¾ tonne bell with the name of 'Angelus' sits proudly atop the cellars at Wirra Wirra and heralds the beginning and end of vintage every year on the famous McLaren Vale estate. Previously the bell rang out from the Jesuit Church in Norwood thrice daily and due to this tradition, Wirra Wirra continue to name the bell and their very best Cabernet Sauvignon every year, The Angelus. Always a pungent and concentrated Cabernet with notes of cassis, cedar and trademark bitter chocolate bound with fine tannins. A propensity to age in the bottle for over a decade as well as its approachability early in life will appeal to all.