Best of Barossa

Winemakers across the board described the stellar 2022 vintage as a growing season that produced wines of elegance and structure with depth and length of flavour and it is all on show here in a big, bold and beautiful way. Have you got a roast or bbq planned? Crack a bottle of this. Want to impress an in-law who only likes full-bodied reds? Crack a bottle. Long week and need a glass of red to relax? Crack a bottle. At this point you'll need a few bottles always on hand but when the wine is this good and suits so many occasions, you'd be silly not to have a box stashed away.

There's always plenty of gusto around the office when wines like this come across the tasting desk. It's the kind of wine we top up a little more and leave to the side to revisit, eagerly awaiting our next taste. And when you look across the details of the wine it's easy to see why — low yielding single vineyard Barossa shiraz, oozing flavour and nuance, crafty use of American oak, small batch and single barrels selection all contribute to a wine hell bent on making a statement.

This is Barossa shiraz in rare form. Rich, ripe and full of character, it’s got that signature depth and generosity the region is famous for. Plum, prune and dark chocolate lead the way, with layers of leather, vanilla and roasted nuts courtesy of 26 months in oak (mostly American, around 20% new). It’s lush and juicy, but also beautifully structured - sweet tannins and regional spice keeping everything stitched together. A further couple of years in bottle has softened the edges, so it’s drinking beautifully already, though it’ll hold its shape for up to 8 years if you can resist. This is classic Barossa through and through - and at this price, it’s a proper cellar-filler.