Geoff Merrill Parham Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep red coloured wine with purple hints. It was aged in brand new American oak hogsheads for 27 months. Its complex and powerful bouquet exudes aromas of roast beetroot, dark chocolate, black olive, blueberry, licorice and mint. The focussed yet balanced oak creates depth as it opens up in the glass. The palate is fleshy, full of tannins, structured with tight acidity, and displays flavours of dark blue fruits, black cherry and olive. Enjoy it with runny double brie, white castello, or pork belly.

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.

The Col Cross Story Somewhere in McLaren Vale youll find a very special block of old vine Shiraz. If you search for it, an olive grove to the west and an ancient chapel will be your guide. The shallow soils overlying a bedrock of limestone and the gentle sea breezes consistently provide us with fruit of exception quality. Dense, classic Shiraz characters of blackberry and dark cherry mesh seamlessly with spicy anise and cedary French oak. A concentrated palate of generous dark fruits and black cherry, the old vines contribute complex spices, cinnamon and nutmeg. A full bodied mouth filling wine that is perfectly balanced by a lingering structural finish.

The Nugan family history spans three generations and more than 80 years, displaying determination and passion. This benchmark McLaren Vale Shiraz is a tribute to the drive and vision of the Matriarch of the Nugan Family, Michelle Carruthers Nugan.

Lloyd Reserve Shiraz is produced from a single vineyard at Coriole, planted in 1919 by Geoffrey Kay. It was first retained as a separate wine in 1989, and is one of Langton's Classified Wines of Australia. This vineyard typically produces a wine of great intensity and can be cellared for many years. The wine is matured in French oak with typically about 40% new.

Vibrant, youthful colour, medium density and lovely purple tints for this Shiraz by Brokenwood. Being a cooler year the aromas are more on the spice cherry side than ripe and opulent. Medium weight palate and again spice and savoury edges. The tell-tale McLaren Vale jube fruit is there along with background oak.