Stephen Pannell grew up in the wine industry as a member of the family which founded Moss Wood in 1967. Stephen's extensive knowledge and experience has been garnered over the years from his work with many of Australia's best wineries (including Wirra Wirra, Hardy's Tintara and BRL Hardy where he was Chief Red Winemaker from 1999 to 2003) and numerous vintages overseas at such places as Domaine des Comtes Lafon in Burgundy, Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux and G.D.Vajra in Barolo. Other highlights in Stephen's career include winning the title of International Red Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge in London, winning the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show, twice winning the Max Schubert Trophy at the Adelaide Wine Show as well as being listed as one of the 50 most influential contributors to the world of wine by Decanter Magazine.

Z-Force is named in tribute to the Z Special Force, which was a special Australian Army unit created in World War Two to operate behind enemy lines. Z-Force’s members were from many countries and specialised in unique guerrilla warfare. Although disbanded after the war, Z-Force pioneered numerous operational techniques and tactics, many as daring as they were brilliant, that remain a model to this day. The surviving members of Z Special Unit last marched together on Anzac Day in Sydney 2010. The extraordinary bravery of their unit and its lost brothers are honoured in this wine, which is Zonte’s Footstep finest. Each bottle of this wine sold helps support the work of Legacy South Australia.

96 points James Halliday: Deep crimson-purple; spice, tar, liquorice and sombre black fruits on the bouquet lead into an intense, full-bodied palate that catches you by surprise with its (relative) lightness of foot. Savoury tannins are there in abundance, as is French oak, but with sufficient protein on hand, you could enjoy a glass (possibly even two) of this wine. 94 points DMWP: This bold , dark and beautiful shiraz still retains a youthful purple edge. It has density, weight and depth in barrow loads. An amazing array of flavours including vanilla, cacao, the blackest of blackberry, dark chocolate, black olive, licorice, spice, and grainy, cedary tannin are easily identified in a big, big, wine. This will live for a very long time. It's a thumper! 92 points eRobert Parker: From a steep, rocky vineyard, the 2013 Hickinbotham Syrah is still quite stern and tannic. Hints of mint accent black cherry fruit in this full-bodied, concentrated wine that still needs a couple more years to come around.

An intricately layered palate structure of ripe fruit and oak flavours seamlessly combined by maturation in barrels. Ripe dark berries, hints of dusty mulberry and spicy plums with subtle vanilla, mocha and chocolate oak flavours are richly interwoven. Fine grained, softly assertive tannins complement lingering flavours. Drinking at its peak, a great statement of luxury Australian Cabernet Sauvignon.

Block 6 was hand-picked from the 125 year old vines on the 21st and 30th of March 2017, producing a healthy and clean crop of 11.37 tonnes. The grapes were crushed, de-stemmed and plunged twice daily while spending 11 days on skins in our traditional open fermenters. The wine was then basket pressed and matured for 20 months in 40% new French and American oak puncheons. Bottled in February 2019.