HEAD Old Vine Shiraz, Barossa Valley The hand-picked fruit comes in small parcels from up to 100-years-old vines. Theres a little whole-bunch fermentation prior to 12 months in a mix of old and new barrels. There is a measure of Old Vine Grenache to lighten up the classic Barrosa Valley Shiraz richness.

Medium depth crimson with purple hues. Ripe red fruits and black cherry on the nose with mocha, subtle savoury and herbal notes adding complexity. The bright and juicy fruits coat the palate and are balanced by pepper and sweet spices. Medium-bodied in structure with great complexity and lovely silky tannins which flow through the fruity, peppery and spicy finish. Despite a later than anticipated start and an earlier than usual finish, the 2018 compressed harvest produced wines of deep colour, flavour and balance across the board. 35% Grenache, 34% Shiraz, 31% Mourvedre. Matured for 12 months in seasoned oak. The site where the Langmeil winery now sits was originally settled by Blacksmith Christian Auricht way back in 1842. Christian went on to establish a bakery, smithy, a butcher's shop and a cobbler as well as planting a 1 hectare vineyard on the estate. This vineyard, still in use today, has been called the Freedom 1843 block and is believed to be one of the oldest Shiraz vineyards in the world. Flash forward 160+ years and the Langmeil winery and vineyard is back in family hands, with Carl Lindner, Richard Lindner and Chris Bitter now owning this historic Barossan estate. Like many Barossan estates with a bent for traditional full bodied reds, Langmeil prefers open fermenters and basket presses, utilising these fabulously archaic methods for over half its grape intake of approximately 1000 tonnes. In a similar vein, the wines are only minimally handled and minimally filtered before bottling in an attempt to preserve natural flavour and complexity.

Dark berry fruit with hints of peppery spice. Soft upfront notes of plums and blackcurrants with integrated oak structure. The finish is soft wth elegance and depth

Colour is deep red. The nose shows aniseed, tar, FruChocs and spicy oak. The fine palate entry has mulberry, cranberry, aniseed and liquorice flowing delicately with Rhone-like spicy, chewy, savoury tannins.

Two Hands is a winery that rarely puts a foot wrong, and the 'Gnarly Dudes' is no exception. The Gnarly refers to the gnarled old Shiraz vines this wine comes from. The nose jumps immediately out of the glass with hints of Asian spice, blackcurrant, rasberry, black pepper, anise and the slightest waft of perfumed violets. The palate gives up a generous hit of black cherry and liquorice. With great complexity, heavy tannins and a brilliant long length, this is a wine that will greatly reward a few years in the cellar.

Generous blue fruits, like mulberries and blueberries, a full and frank Shiraz start. Typical Barossa, generous, flavoursome and super sweet blackberry pie with dark dry chocolate mouth feel. Begins with sweet fruit then tightens up with fine fruit and oak tannin. Great flavour and composition. Sweet spice cuts through and hints of jamminess. Youthful austerity as you would expect from such a classic old school Shiraz but there is also plenty of fineness to the tannin and dark chocolate nuances in the lengthy finish.