Back in 1998 Chief Winemaker, Chris Hatcher, decided it was time to take Wolf Blass into the modern world and the result was a single varietal Shiraz that was 100% aged in French Oak, unlike their famous flagship the Black Label which is a blend and aged in American Oak. A wonderful contemporary version of Wolf Blass that is a cavalcade of rich blueberry, blackberry and complex elements of dark chocolate and warm spice. Superbly long on the palate with an obvious hint to a long future in the cellar.

Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz is Australian wine royalty the equal of any 1st Growth or Grand Cru. The architect of the modern Australian wine industry, Max Schubert, first created his masterpiece back in 1951 and released his first commercial vintage in 1952. Grange is a superbly perfumed and concentrated wine that combines the intense fruit and ripe tannins while extracting the nuances of new, fine grained American Oak after 20 months careful maturation. Known to be capable of ageing gracefully for well over 20 years, the 2007 Grange is certain to become another classic. Born out of a difficult vintage with low rainfall and higher than average summertime temperatures, the resulting wine is nothing more than a triumph of skill and terroir.

Coming from one of the best vintages in recent Barossa history, the Old Block from St Hallett shows what careful vineyard management can do for a wine. Rich, dark and conerntrated but with seamless tannin intergration.

Wendouree has achieved cult status with its tiny production from ancient vines. Luscious dark berry Shiraz fruits and some meaty characters run through the full-bodied palate with ripe tannins.

Tony and Lita Bradys spectacularly individual Wendouree Shiraz has remained true to its origins since Alfred Percy Birks planted vines in 1893. It is considered by many as one of Australias greatest Shirazes. The vineyard is tiny, with low-yielding, beautifully formed old vines, many from the original plantings. Low input viticulture, laissez faire winemaking and maturation in about 1/3 new oak allows the wine to speak of place. These are dense, strongly flavoured wines with beautifully intense varietal fruit, massive concentration and a hallmark muscular sinewy tannin structure. The overall mass of fruit sweetness complements the toughness of the wine. Wendouree Shiraz will age for a long period of time maintaining prominent tannin structures but evolving further complexity and interest.

With a name that directly translates from French as 'The Soil', the Le Sol Syrah (Shiraz) pays homage to the terroir that creates this rich and evocative wine. With the trademark Gimblett Gravels stony soil, with exhibits amazing refinement and breeding while not relinquishing body and complexity.

Alkina Spice Garden Shiraz, Barossa Valley A very welcome inclusion into the Premium Barossa Shiraz Club, Alkinas Spice Garden is 100% organic and biodynamic certified Shiraz from one specific block from which they produced just 44 cases (and some rare magnums). It looks and tastes like a high-gear Barossa Shiraz, with all the ripeness and power matched with a unique minerality.

Levantine Hill Optume Yarra Valley Shiraz Made from 100% Shiraz from parcels selected by Paul Bridgeman, the wine is entirely matured in French oak (29% of which is new). The wine lands at 13.5% abv and has some weight to it but the vintage shows in the finesse of the wine as does Bridgemans finesse. Theres a brooding element to the nose in dried figs, dark spice and a slight edge of white pepper. The palate has a slow and steady pace that ebbs the flooding tide of dark flavours. Decant well or cellar for 15+ years. Explore Levantine Hill

DOMAINE LA BARROCHE Julien Barrot, Chateauneuf-du-Pape