A perennial benchmark in Coonawarra Shiraz, by a couple who have been crafting conspicuous regional editions for over thirty years. Opulent with enticing aromas, heady flavours, stylish oak and fine tannins.

$2999each $357DOZEN EACH DOZEN Doug and Emma Bowen graduated from Roseworthy before settling down to establish a hands on winemaking venture which became one of the Coonawarra's salient estates. Shiraz vines are hand pruned and trellised to the hanging cane method, allowing the fruit to utilize the sunshine for the development of optimum ripeness and flavour. The grapes are harvested, crushed, inoculated and vinified on skins for several days. A third of the wine is barrel fermented in new wood each year. After separating from the solids lees and racking, the wine is monitored throughout malolactic fermentation, followed by a transfer into 225 litres American oak barriques where it rests for up to twenty months.

Deep red in colour, purple hues. The nose exhibits rich cherry and spice notes. Seductive spicy Shiraz fruit richness on the palate gives way to a fine tannin structure. This well rounded wine shows great medium palate weight with the length strengthened by the use of American oak. A match with roast lamb, rich stews and mature cheddar.

One of the Coonawarra's most compelling cases for Shiraz, Bowen Estate's meritorious achievements really do begin in the vineyard. Coonwarra is one of the world's most articulate terroirs, Bowen make a point of preserving the native charm of their Shiraz throughout the course of vinification and ageing in a high proportion of quality new oak. The fruit of intensive viticultural management and judicious selection, it is ultimately the grapes themselves, hand picked and sorted off the vine, which dictate the splendour in this cardinal construct of Coonawarra Shiraz.

$2699each $321DOZEN EACH DOZEN Bowen hold a very strong belief in an old fashioned hand pruning of vines. Such care improves evenness of budburst, bunch exposure and ripeness, for restricted yields of the most intensely flavoured Cabernet Sauvignon. It is this special quality of fruit which translates into benchmark Coonawarra efforts. Shiraz grapes are harvested, crushed and vinified on skins for a term of several days. A third of the fruit is barrel fermented in new oak each year. Batches are monitored through to completion of malolactic, racked off settled lees solids and treated to an extended maturation in a selection of 225 litres French, American and European oak barriques.

Dark, almost black, scarlet purple. Bouquet rich in plum fruit characters and a hint of regional leafyness over spicey oak notes which add to the complexity. The opulent nature of Bowen Shiraz is evident from the moment it's poured into the glass. Ripe and generous, well rounded palate enhanced by elegant and finely balanced Coonawarra tannins supported by fine oak. Drinking generously immediately upon release, serve alongside casseroles, tagines and tomato meat pasta recipes.

Laira is widely regarded as one of the Coonawarra's best plantings of Shiraz. The only locally grown grape variety until 1950, Shiraz has played an important role in establishing Coonawarra's international reputation as Australia's preeminent red wine region.

$1499each $17988/DOZ EACH DOZEN McWilliam's acquired the Laira Vineyard in the 1990s and is today one of the largest landholders in Coonawarra. The winemaking team now retain access to many of the finest plantings of Coonawarra Shiraz. Grapes are vinified on skins for seven days in headed down static and rotary fermenters, pumped over or rolled twice daily to ensure full extractions of colour and flavour. Pressed off skins while still slightly sweet and pumped to new and used French, American and Hungarian oak barrels for malolactic. Upon completion, the wine is racked off lees, barrels are cleaned and the wine returned for seventeen months maturation and a further racking for clarity. Alcohol 14.5%

Bright crimson red. A rich and vibrant nose displaying spices and blood plum, blueberry primary fruits backed by nutty creamy oak from barrel ferments and maturation. Classic tightly structured cool climate Shiraz palate displaying pronounced varietal fruit characters of anise and plum, berries and tar. Oak maturation contributes nutty notes and dusty cedar flavours. The palate has a long finish with fine velvety tannins and lingering fruit flavours.

Laira Vineyard was established by Captain Stentiford in 1893 on a choice parcel of Coonawarra land, one of the salient Terra Rossa plantings. Eric Brand, first Patron of Coonawarra, became custodian of the vineyard more than half a century later. From a selection of the finest grapes, hand picked off the most precious blocks, Stentiford represents the jewel in the crown of Coonawarra Shiraz, a bottle aged wine of peerless quality, matured under the estate cellars until release.

$5499each $657DOZEN EACH DOZEN Gapes are hand picked and fermented on skins while being treated to twice daily rack and return pump overs, extracting maximum colour, flavour and tannins. Components are pressed and pumped to a selection of completely new fine grained French oak hogsheads and barriques to complete primary ferments and malolactic. The finished wine is racked off lees and pumped back into refreshed barrels for maturation. A regimen of gentle rackings serve to develop the wine and achieve a high level of clarity. A rigorous selection of the finest barrels determines those most worthy of inclusion into the final Stentifords Shiraz.

Deep crimson red. Complex nose of black and blueberry, cinnamon and nutmeg spice fruit aromas. Barrel fermentation and maturation contributes vanilla and cedar notes. A powerful but elegant palate structure with spicy, dark berry fruit flavours, toasty cedar oak and a long finish displaying fine, lingering tannins. Drinking brilliantly upon release at several years of age, alongside roast sirloin, venison or smoked bacon casserole with nouille au jus.

There's a whiff of fame here and it carries on to the palate, the drying finish continuing the impression that this is unlikely to make old bones. Plums, cedar, lots of peppery spice, and then that dark, bloody, gamey character.

$7999each $957DOZEN EACH DOZEN Katnook Estate wines take their name from the domain where they are grown and made, limited release editions of great intensity of flavour, made with fastidious attention to detail. Shiraz for this wine was selected from distinguished sites at the estate's vineyards. The 2004 vintage started with an average spring and near perfect flowering. Cool and dry conditions in summer contributed to one of the latest harvests on record. Fruit was picked at optimal ripeness with excellent varietal definition, generous flavours and fine balance. Harvested mid April to mid May pH 3.4 Acidity 6.5g/L Alcohol 14% Winemaker Wayne Stehbens.

A smooth and soft, oak and fruit driven Shiraz, minty aromas, bouquets of spicey plums, leather and raspberry. A supple, fine-grained palate offering restrained flavours of small black and red berries, plums and cedary vanilla and chocolate oak.

Exactingly crafted from fruit grown to distinguished vineyards by a devoted winemaking team, with a philosophy that reflects the tradition of Coonawarra, Katnook Shiraz will be found on some of the best wine lists and in some of the finest cellars around the world, often with several vintages. Coonawarra produces outstanding vintages, Katnook captures the elegance and underlying power of cool climate Terra rosa Shiraz.

$3299each $393DOZEN EACH DOZEN Katnook have accumulated many awards over the years, receiving the coveted Jimmy Watson in 1986. Katnook Shiraz displays exemplary varietal character, sound palate structure with a subtle richness, excellent colour and fine soft tannins. Fruit is picked at optimal ripeness, having developed excellent varietal definition, generous flavours and fine balance between natural sugars, acidity and tannins. The subtle oak lets the fruit speak for itself, It's delicious notes of spice and pepper give away its cool Coonawarra origins whilst adding to the complexity. Matured eighteen months in a combination of new and seasoned Fench and American 225 litre oak barriques and 300 litre hogsheads. Alcohol 13.5%

Very deep dark plum red with bright purple tinges. Attractive raspberry fruit highlighted by subtle sweet oak maturation notes. Intricate levels of complexity with light licorice, spicy plum and black pepper enhanced by the vanillin and chocolatey oak. Richly layered with ripe fruit, complex spice and oak. Appealing raspberry and plum fruit with underlying licorice and sweet spices are combined with vanilla and chocolaty oak maturation notes. Fine grained tannins enhance the lingering savoury fruit flavours.

Silver Medal Winner London International Wine Challenge.

$7999each $957DOZEN EACH DOZEN An exceptional Coonawarra winner from a small vineyard site that consistently produces outstanding Shiraz. The 2003 Coonawarra season saw just below average temperatures and was generally mild and dry with yields being disappointingly low, however quality is very good. The combination of very low yields with a mild and dry ripening period has produced wines rich in varietal fruit flavours with soft tannins. Matured for approximately thirty months in a combination of 37% French and 64% American mostly small 225 litre oak barriques. Of these barrels, approximately 36% were new French oak and 42% were new American barrels. A Shiraz of exceptional character that can be cellared long term, ten to twenty years.

Dense, deep crimson plum in colour. A rich combination of ripe fruit and oak maturation aromas. Attractive raspberry and plum with sweet licorice and anis spices. Bold, ripe, thick and chocolatey, with a delicious smear raspberry, arrays of chocolate-box assortment flavours, subtle sweet vanillin and light toasted and roast coffee beans oak maturation notes adds to the alluring fruit aromas.

The legend continues for Katnook. Prodigy is a limousine standard Coonawarra Shiraz which entered the market with a bang, taking out the 1998 Jimmy Watson Trophy with its inaugural vintage, a remarkable feat off completely new vines. The radiant regional characters are an alluring combination of pepper, bramble fruit and anise, tightly wound into a wine of great depth and elegance.

$9999each $1197DOZEN EACH DOZEN Prodigy is fashioned exclusively from grapes showing an outstanding depth of concentration. An iconic, world class Shiraz style which captures the essence of Coonawarra, parcels are harvested across sections of the vineyard which consistently produce intense flavours and fine tannins. Treated to a small batch fermentation, the extended time in barrel is integral to Prodigy's complexity and style. Only the best barrels are included in the final assembly. Matured for twenty four months in French (30%) and American (70%) small 225 litre oak barriques. Of these barrels, 25% were new French and 43% were new American barrels. The older barrels were mostly American barriques. Alcohol 14.0%

Deep dark plum colour with crimson and purple tinges. A rich and complex array of fruit, oak and subtle maturation aromas. Attractive ripe raspberry and plum fruit with sweet anise and licorice spice tones. Sweet vanillin oak and subtle light roast coffee bean adds complexity to fruit aromas. An opulent palate structure, richly layered with ripe fruit, oak and maturation flavours that are seamlessly combined. Rich raspberry and plum fruit with sweet anise, licorice spice and pepper are a feature. Soft and fine lingering tannin are in harmony with the palate structure.

Founder's Block offers terrific value from splendid vineyards planted to rich Terra rosa soils at the heart of Coonawarra. Katnook are one of the most conspicuous winemaking estates in Australia and retain many of Coonawarra's most prestigious sites. The award winning team earmark parcels of choice Shiraz grapes with vibrant regional expressions to construct an affable wine that's ideally suited to early drinking. Laden with raspberry and plum fruits, seasoned by pepper and spice, gentle oak characters of sweet vanilla add complexity and depth.

$1699each $201DOZEN EACH DOZEN Katnook's vineyards span 330 hectares in the heart of the comparatively small and remote Coonawarra winegrowing region. Katnook retain some of the best sites in Coonawarra and are well positioned to allocate the most appropriate parcels of fruit to suit each unique style of wine. Founder's Block is styled for everyday drinking, fully accessible to lovers of fine wines exploring the fruits of Coonawarra. Grapes are picked in peak condition after fully ripening to intense flavour profiles. With the aim of retaining the bright varietal fruit characters, Founder's Block is treated to a light oak maturation. Components are aged six months in a combination of predominantly French and American oak barrels. Alcohol 13.5%

Deep plum, light purple tinges. Bursting with dark cherry and red berry fruit aromas, subtle spice notes of white pepper and cinnamon. Gentle oak, sweet vanilla and mocha subtly complement the attractive aromas. A generous depth of ripe fruit flavours over fine and subtle oak undertones, showing an attractive combination of bright red berry, pepper and liquorice, subtle oak maturation flavours of vanilla and toast. A rounded, elegant mid palate finishing with soft fine grained tannins. Lamb and Shiraz are hard to separate, match Founders Block with a ragout, couscous or tagine.

Made from forty year old vines, Majella has acquired a timeless reputation as one of the Coonawarra's flagship Shiraz wines. From vines planted to grazing country, there's not much money in wool but Majella still run wethers and lamb on their properties at Coonawarra and Penola.

$3499each $417DOZEN EACH DOZEN Majella founders George and Brian Lynn planted six acres of Shiraz in 1968. The grapes were initially sold to Eric Brand of Laira, who made wines for Thomas Hardy. There wasn't a lot of money in it, but it complemented the sheep enterprise, so eventually some seventy acres were planted, 60% being Shiraz. As ever, the fermentation was completed in 300 litre barrels and the wine was then aged for a further twenty two months in predominately American oak. A great example of Coonawarra Shiraz at its very best, immediately palatable as a young wine after a slight breathing, offering excellent ageing potential of eight to ten years.

Deep, dark purple in colour. The nose is spicy with hints of cherry, dark chocolate and cedary oak. The wine has a robust palate showing great berry characters with hints of cloves, cinnamon, chocolate and black pepper. The substantial palate is supported by tannins which are soft and accomodating, complementing the long, lingering finish.

One of Coonawarra's leading viticultural estates and most eminent winemaking operaions, Majella has earned an enviable reputation for growing and bottling the region's very finest Shiraz. There may not be a lot of it made each year, but it is very, very good and anyone who thinks that Coonawarra is only for Cabernet needs to experience Majella Shiraz.

$3199each $381DOZEN EACH DOZEN Majella was acquired by George Lynn in 1960 as part of an up and coming lamb enterprise. He had always been great friends with Eric Brand, who'd just started producing his illustrious Laira label. Eventually, seventy acres of about 60% Shiraz were planted, but as the vines matured in the 1970s, demand for grapes, particularly Shiraz was very low, and there were a couple of years when thirty or more tonnes of premium grapes were left to rot. Today, Majella stands proudly in first place on the Coonawarra Shiraz dais. As always the fermentation is completed in three hundred litre barrels, before an extended maturation for up to two years in a selection of French and American oak.

Dark red in colour with purple hues. Redolent of cinnamon spice with overlays of cedary mocha oak. The palate shows great length, full of plums, cherries, blackberries and vanilla, creamy and sweet. Tannins are soft and dusty, complementing the long, lingering finish. Coonawarra Shiraz at its very best.

Penfolds Bin 128 remains one of the purest editions within the Penfolds stable. Firstly, as a Coonawarra Shiraz, it is one of the few Penfolds reds that isn't a multi regional blend. Launched in 1962, Penfolds Bin 128 reflects the unique climate and growing conditions of the Coonawarra and the elegant style of cool-climate Shiraz. French oak highlights the pepper, spice and floral characteristics that define this style. Great attention is paid to fruit ripeness for the Bin 128, resulting in the developement of fuller Shiraz flavours, in a wine of style and structure. An awesome table red to mate with duck, game or lamb.

$2999each $357DOZEN EACH DOZEN A favourable growing season leading up to the 2005 vintage, Coonawarra experienced a cool dry summer, with the grapes ripening evenly and early. Overall perfect vintage weather with no rain offered a great opportunity to make wines of classic varietal character and longevity. This wine was matured for 11 months in a combination of new (20%), one, two and three year old French oak hogsheads. The deeply berried fruits of the growing season, and stylish oak treatment made a balanced and varietal wine that's immensely true to its style, region and vintage. Alcohol 14.0% Acidity 6.2g/L pH 3.57.

A vibrant and glistening, red-purple. The nose is youthful and exuberant with wafts of ground black pepper, black olive and liquorice. There are background savoury charcouterie spice notes, ginger, white pepper and truffle, closely followed by detectable cedar and oak elements. A youthful and lively red, engaging, offering mega dark fruits and menthol flavours with an excellent rich mid palate. Tingling natural fruit acids coupled with extremely favourable oak and prominent tannins gives grip, tightness and definition. The 2005 Bin 128 is a medium bodied wine of impressive length and flavour persistence. A great Shiraz to enjoy with roast standing sirloin and savoury barbequed pork.