The Glaetzer family have been part of the Barossa winemaking scene since 1888 and now Ben takes over the reigns and produces Shiraz of the utmost intensity and concentration. Named after the ancient Egyptian god Amon-Ra who was the champion of the poor and troubled and was central to personal piety, the temple of Amon-Ra is believed to be the first to plant a vineyard to produce wine for the citizens of the temple. This incarnation is rich, full-bodied and viscous to the palate, yet with sublime oak integration and a balance on the back palate that is quite lifted allowing it to be paired with many meals and a prime candidate for medium to long term cellaring.

The now much sought after Righteous range of wines from Kym Teusner was first established in 2005 with the Grenache and this is the latest incarnation of this foreboding Barossa wine. Sourced from an 80 year old bush-vine vineyard, the Righteous Grenache was gently crushed and fermented in open fermenters with regular pump-overs. Maturation was completed in a mix of French and American oak and has resulted in a modern classic Grenache.

A lovely medium bodied, rich wine with notes spice, dark cherry, plum and chocolate. With fine but persistant tannins and light acid felt on the tip of the tongue and a long savoury finish

Coming from one of the best vintages in recent Barossa history, the Old Block from St Hallett shows what careful vineyard management can do for a wine. Rich, dark and conerntrated but with seamless tannin intergration.

One of the benchmarks of Barossa Shiraz, Peter Lehmann's Stonewell is a classic example of the rich concentrated old vine style. While bold on the palate, there is always an inherent complexity to the Stonewell that enables it to be compared with all of the great Australian wines produced today.

The Penfolds Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz is a relatively new addition to the Penfolds stable, sourced from the Barossan sub-district, Marananga. Simply a revelation, this wine is an inky, black beast in the glass with lashings of dark chocolate and coffee accented fruit, yet this years offering shows a lingering, soft structured finish that will see the wine cellar very nicely.

Sourced from the Standish Family Vineyard Siegersdorf Road, Vine Vale, Barossa Valley. Planted on own roots in 1912. Dense, latent and strapping, this flaunts the flawless purity that can be leached from the famed sandy flints of Vine Vale. Tightly wound with its cards close to the vest, deep-set aromatics of coal, pressed currant and black truffle are foiled by redolent tones of tilled soil, beef broth and slow roasted meats. Dark and brooding with immense concentration, persistence and energy it is somewhat of a heroic style but is gently laced with a long fine cloak of silken tannin.

The Torbreck Descendant has a powerful nose of blackberry and tar complemented by floral lavender and a violet lift. Full-bodied and concentrated with ripe silky tannins and plenty of extract this wine has a great future ahead.

This blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Viognier is a relatively recent addition to Henschke's impressive range. Typically fragrant plum and raspberry aromas, followed by a velvety palate with rich fruit flavours and well intergraded tannins. Henry's Seven will not disappoint.