Clarendon Hills is the living vision of one of the world's greatest Shiraz winemakers, Roman Bratasiuk. The dream was realised in 1990 and is now home to some of the most outstanding and hard to get single vineyard wines in Australia. The Astralis is the flagship wine in the Clarendon Hills portfolio, and while this vineyard is not treated any differently to the others, it garners the most worldwide attention due to its incredible expression and timeless elegance. From an Easterly aspect and planted on a 45 degree ascending slope, Australis has phenomenal varietal length and will repay the patient cellarer for more than 15 years.

Rockford Basket Press Shiraz has garnered a unique and cult following over its lifetime. With its 'old school' brown glass bottle and traditional label, Rockford Basket Press is one for the traditionalists. Big, bold and upfront fruit with all the lashings of chocolate, coffee bean and Christmas cake all have come to adore.

The Hippie Shiraz is a beautiful wine sourced from a blend of Margaret River and Blackwood Valley fruit. This is an elegant cool climate wine. Showing peppery and leafy notes on the nose. It is a light to medium boded wine with a dry palate.

Henschke have in recent years begun to identify and single out great quality parcels of Shiraz fruit that deserves to be bottled seperately and released as part of their Vineyard Selection. The Tappa Pass Shiraz is sourced from old low yielding Barossa vineyards that shows amazing depth and concentration. Rich, lush and intense it will develop further complexity with bottle age.

Bannockburn Shiraz is a multi-layered wine showing blackberry, black cherry and spice on the nose which follow through to the palate. Soft tannins and medium length.

Tim Kirk has quickly become Australia's Shiraz-Superstar. With cool-climate vineyards that are managed pefectly and with expert guidance, Clonakilla is a must have for all serious wine lovers. Tim's Hilltops Shiraz has luscious dark Shiraz fruit, with blackberry, roasted meat and gentle spice in the background. The tannins are ripe, the fruit juicy, the finish long and savoury. Superb.

Product Information: Grown just across the dam from their flagship old vine Kiss Shiraz and we'll let you in on a secret - The Dam Block Shiraz shows similar dark blue fruits to the flagship Shiraz, as well as the distinctive savoury texture and al-dente tannins of this pedigree vineyard, but at a slightly more affordable price. The inaugural 2015 single vineyard release proved very popular with our customers, and it has since become a permanent instalment within Thomas range. A tantalising nose of fresh red and black berries, pot-pourri, espresso and bitter chocolate. The palate is structured with a frame of fine tannins and refreshing acidity around a core of intense fresh blackberry, dark plum and black cherry fruits. Hints of licorice, pastille and a note of graphite adding a subtle mineral savouriness. The fruit was destemmed but not crushed allowing some bright carbonic characters to emerge during the relatively cool seven day fermentation on skins. Pressed off to new, one and three-year-old French oak hogsheads (300L) in roughly equal proportions for 14 months maturation prior to bottling. Maker: Given Andrew's family background, it seemed fated he would work in wine. Early inspiration came from his father, Wayne Thomas who had a distinguished career making wine where Andrew was raised in McLaren Vale. During Andrew's formative winemaking years, despite being groomed for a possible winemaking career in South Australia, he developed a deep passion for finesse, and the more subtle and savoury structured wines of the Hunter Valley. After graduating with a degree in Oenology at Roseworthy Agricultural College, Andrew set off on his winemaking journey at Tyrrell’s Vineyards. During 13 years of guidance under the legendary Murray Tyrrell at Tyrrells Wines, he gained a great respect for, and understanding of the two signature varieties of the Hunter Valley – you guessed it, semillon and shiraz. The thirst for more knowledge and winemaking experience was quenched with vintages in Sonoma, Tuscany, Piedmont and Provence; but the desire to make world class wines under his own label could no longer be denied, with realisation it was time for Andrew Thomas to pave his own path. Thomas Wines was established in 1997, with a clear and focused objective to specialise in single vineyard Hunter Valley Semillon and Shiraz. Over the years Andrew has formed close and collaborative alliances with an impressive folio of local growers. These growers own and operate arguably some of the Hunter Valley’s most distinguished sites, producing world class, uniquely regional styles. Each wine is destined to showcase its unique vineyard signature and express a real sense of place. Philosophy: Whilst Andrew has always applied a no compromise, attention to detail approach to my winemaking, he truly believes that 90% of the quality lies in the vineyard. Andrew says "The key to great wine is ‘keeping it simple’ to preserve that potential quality from the vine through to the bottle." Stylistically speaking, the modern style of Hunter Shiraz is a far cry from the wines of yesteryear. The contemporary style displays an aromatic fruit purity and vibrancy, all framed within a regional, medium bodied structure. This, together with a more ‘hands-off’ approach to our winemaking, has allowed the true character of each vineyard to shine through - just the way wine should be. Dam Block Shiraz comes from a tiny 0.8 hectare block just across the dam from their flagship old vine Kiss Shiraz. Andrew has been taking this fruit for many years now, and it had always been an important component of their Two of a Kind and Synergy Shiraz, with a few barrels making the grade for Elenay over the years. Hand-picked on the 25th of February 2023, which is probably the latest we've ever harvested this block providing a longer than usual ripening period. The fruit was destemmed but not crushed allowing some bright carbonic characters to emerge during the relatively cool seven day fermentation on skins. Pressed off to new, one and three-year-old French oak hogsheads (300L) in roughly equal proportions for 14 months maturation prior to bottling. Nose - Red & Black Berries, Potpourri, Red Earth Pretty aromas of blue fruits, spice, ferrous earth, bramble and dried herbs. Palate - Dark Blum, Black Cherry, Woody Spice Really pleasurable, supple, succulent, fruit driven with sour-sweet cherry fruit character, touch of raspberry, some woody spice notes subtly woven in, black pepper in the mix and touches of undergrowth. Finish - Silty Tannins, Tight, Mineral Savouriness There are whispers of liquorice, pastille and a note of graphite adding a subtle mineral savoriness. The finish is long and layered with a luscious and enticing mouth-feel.

Product Information: Drawing inspiration from Hunter Valley winemaking legends Maurice O’Shea and Murray Tyrrell, the DJV Shiraz Pinot Noir, is a modern spin on the traditional blends of days gone by. The name “DJV” refers to the feeling of déja vu that you may well experience when tasting this wine, and is Andrew Thomas' tribute to the traditional “Hunter River Burgundy” style. The intriguing blend 56% Shiraz and 44% Pinot Noir. The Shiraz portion comes from Fordwich Hill and Vanessa Vale vineyards, and the Pinot Noir from the original Terrace Vale (now Hunters Dream) plantings. There was 20% whole bunch inclusion during the fermentation of the Pinot Noir which was followed by 10 months maturation in four-year-old French oak 300L hogsheads. The two varietals are interlaced and offer an immediately inviting palate with a silky texture from fine-grained tannins. Nose it and you'll uncover enticing flowers, red and black berries with hints of pink pepper and warm herbs within a vivid pale purple colour. Flavours of ripe cherry, red plum and black raspberry follow. An alluring and moreish number. Maker: Given Andrew's family background, it seemed fated he would work in wine. Early inspiration came from my father, Wayne Thomas who had a distinguished career making wine where Andrew was raised in McLaren Vale. During Andrew's formative winemaking years, despite being groomed for a possible winemaking career in South Australia, he developed a deep passion for finesse, and the more subtle and savoury structured wines of the Hunter Valley . After graduating with a degree in Oenology at Roseworthy Agricultural College, Andrew set off on his winemaking journey at Tyrrell’s Vineyards. During 13 years of guidance under the legendary Murray Tyrrell at Tyrrells Wines, he gained a great respect for, and understanding of the two signature varieties of the Hunter Valley – you guessed it, semillon and shiraz. The thirst for more knowledge and winemaking experience was quenched with vintages in Sonoma, Tuscany, Piedmont and Provence; but the desire to make world class wines under his own label could no longer be denied, with realisation it was time for Andrew Thomas to pave his own path. Thomas Wines was established in 1997, with a clear and focused objective to specialise in single vineyard Hunter Valley Semillon and Shiraz. Over the years Andrew has formed close and collaborative alliances with an impressive folio of local growers. These growers own and operate arguably some of the Hunter Valley’s most distinguished sites, producing world class, uniquely regional styles. Each wine is destined to showcase its unique vineyard signature and express a real sense of place. Philosophy: Whilst Andrew has always applied a no compromise, attention to detail approach to my winemaking, he truly believes that 90% of the quality lies in the vineyard. Andrew says "The key to great wine is ‘keeping it simple’ to preserve that potential quality from the vine through to the bottle." Stylistically speaking, the modern style of Hunter Shiraz is a far cry from the wines of yesteryear. The contemporary style displays an aromatic fruit purity and vibrancy, all framed within a regional, medium bodied structure. This, together with a more ‘hands-off’ approach to our winemaking, has allowed the true character of each vineyard to shine through - just the way wine should be. The fruit comes from two vineyards, Shiraz (56%) from the Fordwich Hill and Vanessa Vale vineyards, and Pinot Noir (44%) from the original Terrace Vale (now Hunters Dream) plantings on the alluvial flats of Deaseys Road. There was 20% whole bunch inclusion during the fermentation of the Pinot Noir which was followed by 10 months maturation in four-year-old French oak 300L hogsheads. During the final blending process, the Fordwich Hill Shiraz parcel was selected for its bright red fruited aromatics, whilst the Vanessa Vale Shiraz added some punchy weight and tannin structure to the final blend. Nose - Pink Pepper Corns, Blackberries, Woody Spices Attractive perfume of woody spices, dark cherry, red plum, turned earth and pepper. Palate - Sappy, Ripe Cherry, Silky Inviting palate with a silky texture from fine-grained tannins. Flavours of ripe cherry, red plum and black raspberry follow, alongside hints of violet, cassia and ruby chocolate. Finish - Turned Earth, Chocolate, Refreshing There is an excellent length of palate. Feels quite serious, tightly wound yet refreshing. Tannin quality is great here. Refreshing.