A big 1.5l MAGNUM of a "lovely contemporary Barossa Reserve Shiraz" (Halliday) with three Golds and 2 x 95pt scores. The Schild Estate can boast Shiraz vines planted by Ann Jacobs in 1847. The Schild's first arrived in Australia in 1866, and the family moved to the Barossa and purchased vineyards here in 1952. They did not make their first 'Schild' branded wine until 1998, but the estate's reputation grew steadily. Although no longer owned by the family, the estate's vineyards are all still under the family's control. This Ben Schild Reserve is named in honour of Ben Schild, who died suddenly back in 1956, leaving son Ed Schild to manage the business. This 2021 boasts three Golds and several scores of 94-95pts. It is, as Sam Kim Wine Orbit writes: "Instantly appealing ... plump and opulent in the mouth with plush texture backed by loads of silky tannins... with seductive complexity. 95pts" WinePilot complements its "sumptuous palate... bright and vibrant with tremendous juicy ripe fruits..." For Dave Brookes, The Halliday Wine Companion, “There's a real creaminess that I like here. It's not an oak creaminess, more so a plum and blueberry cream with underlying hints of dark-chocolate-dipped cherries, black forest cake, vanillin oak, panforte, olive tapenade, violets and earth. Luscious and mouth-filling with fine tannins and a velvety flow at the back end. It's a lovely contemporary Barossa shiraz. 95pts, Great Value.”

Excellent Shiraz boasting Golds, high points and critical praise: "Opulent and sumptuous... Mouth-coating and luscious. 96pts"(Sam Kim Wine Orbit). "A super concentrated Shiraz from the Barossa, it was a low yielding season resulting in fruit of great concentration and power....smooth and velvety. 95pts (Ray Jordan WinePilot). "... packed with ripe Doris plum, black cherry and boysenberry fruit notes. Hints of dried cranberry, baking spice, licorice, fruit-and-nut chocolate, tapenade, violets and roasting meats. Full bodied, with compact, powdery tannins and some fine acidity. Nice red plum notes flow in on the palate, adding detail and a few lumens to the ripe fruit on show. Long finish too.95pts.” (Dave Brookes, The Halliday Wine Companion). The Schild Estate can boast Shiraz vines planted by Ann Jacobs in 1847. The Schild's first arrived in Australia in 1866, and the family moved to the Barossa and purchased vineyards here in 1952. They did not make their first 'Schild' branded wine until 1998, but the estate's reputation grew steadily. Although no longer owned by the family, the estate's vineyards are all still under the family's control.

By 1850, Krondorf village comprised 121 Settlers and their families. These 121 souls formed the beginning of a new community that shaped the future of the Barossa Valley. Their spirit is remembered through the rare, meticulously selected old vines, with the 2021 vintage hand crafted from a single vineyard in the Southern Barossa with an average vine age of 60 years. With a minimalist approach to winemaking, gentle pigeage is used to extract tannins then it’s matured in premium French oak barrels for a period of 18 months. This richly textured Shiraz gives lifted and concentrated aromatics of dark plum and blackberry fruit, with complex spicy oak notes from new and seasoned French oak hogsheads. The palate shows incredible depth and intensity, the oak giving balance to the strong core of dark fruit. Graphite, aniseed and chocolate round out the palate. Approachable in the short to mid-term, but also a strong candidate for long-term cellaring.

Yalumba has always had a passion to keep exciting barrels or small batch wines separate from the blending table, regardless of quantity. This is where the Steeple Vineyard Shiraz was discovered. Sourced from antique vines within the Yalumba Steeple Vineyard on the Barossa Valley floor, this Shiraz is a strong expression of terroir, with a dynamic scent, energetic freshness and cooling earthy tannins.

Barossa Valley identity, Kym Teusner, harnesses the fruit weight and concentration of old vine Mataro with expert hands here with the Righteous Mataro. The fruit was sourced from the 'fruit salad' vineyard planted in the 1930s and consists mostly of Grenache, but if you look closely, every fourth vine is a quirky Mataro vine! Wonderful layers of spice over dense blue and black fruits pave the way for a finish that is utterly long and sublime.

Small parcels of fruit from old dry grown vines are selected for their intensity of flavour and individual qualities. Complex and concentrated this classic Barossan will continue to develop for a decade at least.

Kellermeister's Wild Witch has garnered a cult following over the past years due to the brooding, rich, full-bodied and limited nature of the Barossa classic. The inky, viscous, foreboding black fruit is sourced from low-yielding, dry grown vineyards specially selected for producing the very best Kellermeister can get their hands on. Resting for two years in the finest French oak to really develop its flavour and character. Almost 'magical'.