Hunter Valley Shiraz is defined by its poise, a medium bodied style of lighter hues, elegant restraint and supple tannins. Brokenwood also retain vineyards a little further afield, amongst the Blewitt Springs and McLaren Flats of McLaren Vale. The fruit here makes a wine of greater substance and palate weight. A choice parcel from a superlative Beechworth site, contributes to a concord of astonishing balance, the chocolateyness of McLaren Vale coats the crisp red fruits of the Hunter, coalescing into a dulcet cherry ripe of tensile tannins and background coconut oak.

$3399each $407DOZEN EACH DOZEN Harvests of Shiraz are assembled at the Brokenwood wineworks in Pokolbin. The Beechworth and McLaren Vale components are crushed within site of the vineyard and cold settled during the journey to Hunter Valley. Batches are treated to a combination of open and roto red fermenters, pressed off skins for malolactic and racked into a selection of seasoned and new French and American oak barrels for eighteen months maturation.

Garnet with purple hues. A bright nose of floral, savoury leaf and rose petal aromas, currants, pepper and plum. Lovely weight of blackberry, currants and spiced fruit flavours are supported by gentle oak impact and splendid length of ripe tannins, a persistent ripeness of fruit characters and carob savouryness, before a splendid, lingering finish.

Growing happily to deep sandy soils in the premiere precincts of McLaren Flat, the remarkable vines on Wade Block 2 were sourced as cuttings from a distinguished, old site very nearby and replanted to their own roots. The extraordinary quality of Shiraz from Wade Block 2 merits a single vineyard wine, distinctive, articulate and complex. Its gracefully perfumed nose, penetrating palate and showroom tannins, define Wade Block 2 as a profound and evocative expression of McLaren Vale, albeit, uncannily eloquent of the stately Brokenwood style.

$7399each $887DOZEN EACH DOZEN Fruit is harvested and crushed to chilled tankers for a cold settling during transfer to the Brokenwood wineworks at Pokolbin. Batches are treated to a gentle rotation in vinomatic fermenters, worked to a minimal amount of pumpover, as soft extraction of judicious tannins are essential. Upon completion, batches are held for a term of post ferment maceration, followed by racking to a selection of seasoned and new French and American oak barrels for maturation.

Vibrant colour, purple hues. Spiced cherry nose, raspberries and cassis, opulent and ripe. Medium weight palate, dark chocolateyness around a core of black fruits, confit plum, savouryness and spice, jube berry fruit flavours supported by background oak and fine grained tannin.

Since Margaret River makes Shiraz as good as it gets anywhere in the world, why trifle with nature's finest? Verse 1 is crafted with a minimum of intervention from the best quality fruit. Elegantly structured, an exciting Shiraz exhibting the stylish hallmarks of the region, medium bodied and flavoursome, maintaining true elegance and varietal definition. Expressions of spiced peppery fruit on the nose and palate, notes of berries and plum are enhanced by subtle nuances of cedar and French vanilla oak, the perfect accompaniement to osso bucco and lamb.

$1999each $239DOZEN EACH DOZEN Brookland Valley is the only estate which controls vineyards over the entire length and breadth of Margaret River. Verse 1 are fashioned to express true regionality with elegance and intensity, eminently drinkable upon release. Shiraz is sourced from the most superlative vineyards operated by Margaret River's most experienced growers. After harvesting, bunches are destemmed into static fermenters, inoculated for vinification and routinely worked to extract flavours, colour and tannin, followed by a pressing at dryness. Components are seeded and treated to a malolactic fermentation before being matured for up to a year under a mix of new and prior use French oaks.

Deep red with youthful purple hues. Nicely fragrant spicey black fruits, combined with hints of licorice, black pepper and cloves, all supported by subtle oak aromas. Classy, elegant ribena and violet perfumes, dusty dried herb and leafy complexity held firmly together by lashings of nutmeg oak. A Shiraz that sits softer on the palate than most, abetted by firm tannins and persistence of flavour.

Number 6 is a reference to the sixth generation of Adams family to grow wine grapes on the historic Metala property at Langhorne Creek. Arthur Formby planted twenty one rows of Shiraz here in 1891 and a further 5½ acres in 1894, much of which is still producing outstanding quality fruit. The wines of Metala are legendary and represent many of Langhorne Creek's most memorable vintages. An intense but balanced Shiraz wine of delicious, gently spiced plum flavours and regional eucalypt minty notes, supported by fine, velvet tannins.

$2199each $263DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Deep dark red/ plum in colour. Gentle black pepper and spice support lifted red currant and raspberry aromas along with subtle darker fruits, blackcurrant, plums and notes of mint. Medium bodied in structure, the palate displays a balance of regional sweet red fruits, pepper/ spice and plush, soft tannins to achieve a wine of length and complexity.

The historic Metala Vineyard has been in family hands since since the 1850s. Closely managed by fifth generation viticulturalist Guy Adams, the heritage property is the source of fruit for the national icon Metala label. Adam's family has been growing grapes since 1891, he still keeps a close watch over his vineyard which is just two minutes down the road from home. The pick of Langhorne Creek Shiraz, off three elite estate blocks, is treated to a highly traditional vinification, followed by an extravagant two years repose in a selection of the very finest French oak.

$4999each $599DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Deep crimson colour. Distinct regional aromas of menthol, peppermint and mocha coffee, biscuity/ biscotti oak interwoven by blackberry and a touch of leather. Intense blackcurrant fruit and spice on the palate with super fine tannins which build with intensity before a long, mouth filling finish. Starts small and finishes big!

Patricia is a muscular and complex flagship wine, named for the estate's matriarch, a tour de force of Victorian Shiraz, defined by a reverential handling of fruit, picked off Victoria's most exclusive vineyards. A sensational backbone from the distinguished Brown Brothers Heathcote block is vinified alongside parcels from superior sites in Bendigo, Henty and Valley King. A rich course of oak barrel ferments is followed by eighteen months in a luxuriously high proportion of new, French and American puncheons and barriques. Patricia finishes with immense length, profound elegance and fine, velvet tannins.

$4999each $599DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Intriguing deep inky colour. Ripe perfumes, aromatic blackberry nose supported by shavings of toasty oak, hints of cinnamon and white pepper. A fully intense palate, concentration of fruit, oak and tannins in amazing balance, its big, chocolatey girth of intense fruit flavours are underpinned by the savouryness of roast meats, cherry reductions and pan grille. Victorian Shiraz of extraordinary richness, stride and aplomb.

Brown Brothers retain a heritage of fine winemaking which is almost as old as Victorian viticulture itself. Colonial officials are recorded as praising the quality of Brown Brothers Shiraz as far back as 1889. They have since established, an inventory of the most distinguished vineyards. The Shiraz from their Heathcote property has been an essential component to many of Brown Brothers most memorable vintages. As a pure, single vineyard wine, it affords aspirants the opportunity to savour the pick of Heathcote's crop, the first choice alongside a flame seared, well marbled cut of beef.

$2499each $299DOZEN EACH DOZEN Heathcote is one of the few places in Australia to have established an international reputation as a delineated appellation of single varietal wine. The Brothers Heathcote Vineyard was planted to rolling hills, astride an auspicious ridge which forms the backbone of Mount Camel Ranges, on a strip of rich volcanic Cambrian Terra Rosa soils. Ten Acres is a single vineyard Shiraz from a distinguished Heathcote site, parcels are crushed into a cold soak and treated to a course of vinification, followed by completion of malolactic and a year's maturation in a selection of seasoned and new, American and French oak puncheons and barriques.

Deep brick red colour. Intensely lifted aromas of red and dark berry fruit fragrances, the classic pepper notes of Heathcote Shiraz, violet florals and ferrous earth. Medium bodied palate, layered with plum and bramble fruit flavours, preserved prune and a seasoning of oriental spice, framed by the suppleness of cherry tree oak and supported by a length of fine, muscular tannins.

$2499each $299DOZEN EACH DOZEN

$3499each $419DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Five generations of viticulture make Browns one of the few family owned labels still producing outstanding vintages of Padthaway Shiraz. Planted predominately to the renowned Terra Roa over limestone super soils, Brown's vineyards have long provided the harvests for the nation's leading brands. Treated to an extended term of age in the pick of American and French oak hogsheads, T-Trellis is a big, generous, complex earthy wine, led by magnificent bouquets of savoury floral, chewy licorice and winegum spice, Shiraz of seamless balance, supported by ripe, mouthfilling berry flavours.

$2499each $299DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Buckshot is a reference to the splendid ironstone pebble soils which pervade some of the more propitious Heathcote sites, instrumental in allowing a singular combination of water retention and drainage, while promoting superior root penetration. Small batch winemaker Rob Peebles sources a very special parcel of Shiraz from a unique five acre block, off vines forty years of age, within the eminent Davies Vineyard, an auspicious site which also supplies fruit to the venerable Two Hands and Bindi labels, as well as Domaine Chandon.

$3299each $395DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Deep garnet hues, dark core. Fully aromatic, pure and intense varietal fruit bouquet, plums, spices and soy, licorice and ferrous characters. Medium bodied palate with bramble and chocolate/ plum flavours kept vital by refined acids and creamy oak textures. Exhibits the classic Heathcote minerality, impenetrable dark fruit and sound tannin structure, culminating in a lingering, long silky finish.

A stylish young red by Lake Breeze, one of Langhorne Creek's most highly venerated wineries. This Bullant wraps the palate with lively fruit forward Shiraz characters, plummyness and spice, swathed in smooth chocolatey tannins. Beautifully balanced and representing exceptional value, Bullant makes for satisfying early drinking whilst offering the substance to see it through a spell of cellaring. As you're enjoying the wine, spare a thought for the fruit pickers and farmhands who danced in abandon amongst the vines, to avoid the menacing bullants!

$1999each $239DOZEN EACH DOZEN Crafted from the vineyard through to the finished product with all the superior winemaking skill which Lake Breeze applies to its finest offerings. Grapes are selected and picked at optimum ripeness from good vineyards sited around the famous flood plains of Langhorne Creek. The well drained soils receive a deposition of silt during the annual floods, which ensures that the fertility remains at a high level. Maceration of the grapes whilst on skins has imparted to the Bullant an excellent array of varietal flavours, deep colours and silky textures. A ripe, full bodied Shiraz which has evolved over the course of fifteen months, whilst undergoing maturation under a selection of the finest oak.

Deep dark red in colour. Bouquet of ripe sweet plums, allsorts and liquorice with a touch of earthiness and the complexity of spice, freshly ground pepper, blackcurrants and cocoa with savoury meaty characters. Bullant is fully ripe yet youthful with a wonderful intensity and length of flavour. The palate is rich with black fruits leading to a long soft finish. Drinking well now alongside steak or gourmet snags.