The Hoffmann Vineyard wine is the result of close collaboration between winemaker Ringland and his friend, grape-grower Adrian Hoffmann, whose vineyard holdings occupy key sites in the Ebenezer sub-region of the northern Barossa. Robert Parker himself calls Ringland an international grandmaster of Shiraz. The Hoffmann Vineyard Shiraz is a tête de cuvée (literally head of the blend) style. Key parts of the vineyard, with vines between 60 and 100+ years old, are picked at different stages of ripeness, resulting in five separate two-tonne grape parcels ultimately filling 20 barrels. The final wine is a selection of the best four barrels. The annual make will never exceed 200 dozen. Its an essence-of-Shiraz style uncompromisingly rich and concentrated. The first vintage was 2006 and the wine has begun building a track record that will inevitably match that of the Barossa Ranges wine. Right now, you need to decant it 12 hours (or more) before serving to allow the fruit to come to the fore.

A plush and slurpy palate bursting with juicy forest berries, fine coating tannins locked intricately together by a delicious vanillin oak undertone. The Blockhead range is characterised by its drinkability and its soft, lush and generous palate.

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.

A rich, classically styled, medium to full-bodied Shiraz with ample richness, a softly textured supple mouthfeel, and lifted flavours of ripe dark plum, liquorice, dark chocolate and toasty vanillin oak gliding across the palate.

This Shiraz is dark red with amazing purple hues, it has aromas of blackberry and pepper, and is a flavour bomb of sweet black fruit.

Located in the High Eden sub-region of the Barossa, Mountadam was originally established in 1972 by the late David Wynn for his winemaking son Adam. Since 2005, it has returned to being a family owned and run winery, with David and Jenni Brown overseeing its success. With Phil Lehmann, the son of Peter Lehmann, as chief winemaker, they are going from strength-to-strength. High Eden’s chilly heights lead to harvests up to a month later than those in neighbouring Eden Valley. The result is gorgeous Shiraz like this, full of blue fruit and peppery acidity.

Classic single vineyard Barossa shiraz made from old vines on the western ridge of the valley. There’s opulence, fruit weight, fine tannins and a long finish on this one. Wild yeast has been utilised before nearly two months in a mix of new and seasoned French and American oak. Plum, mulberry and clove jump out of the glass upon first whiff. The palate expands even further with vanilla, licorice, dark chocolate and graphite. Smoothness, complexity and depth all wrapped up in a velvety package. This is really, really good vino.