The signature Thistledown lifted aromatics are present but the palate offers more sinew and spice than those from McLaren Vale. Textural, almost chewy but polished dark cherry, mineral and warm spices carry through to a finish of incredible length.

Old, extremely low-yielding McLaren Vale vines are responsible for d'Arenberg's Dead Arm Shiraz - a wine of enormous power, intensity and real complexity - an absolute must for any serious wine cellar and d'Arenberg lover. One of the flagships for McLaren Vale for many years, this wine continues to shine with a balanced between tradition and Chester Osborne driven innovation.

A faithful expression of the site beautiful, haunting aromatics, fine sandy tannins and wonderful, memorable length on the palate

This is a wine of great generosity and depth. The nose exhibits an abundance of purple fruits, mulberries and plums - with a mix of baking spices including nutmeg, cinnamon and star anise. The palate is fleshy and juicy with an almost velvet like texture. The Grenache adds fruit character and balanced acidity, the Shiraz fills out the wine and delivers early structure while the Mourvedre provides red fruits and dried herb notes and provides a core of fine tannins.

A layered and floral nose of fresh lavender, flowering thyme and sage, along with bright red berry and dark cherry fruits. The palate is layered and complex whilst maintaining elegance. It has a mineral rich, structural palate with characters of wet slate, savoury cherry fruit, hints of warm spice and bright pomegranate like acidity. It is layered and has a fine and lingering finish.

DOMAINE DE LA MORDOREE Cuvee de la Reine des Bois, Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Sourced from three remarkable sites in the famed Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale, this wine possesses a beautifully complex, aromatic nose of violets, wild cherry, rosemary and warming spice. The palate is energetic yet polished and smooth with vibrant cherry, spice, wild strawberry and liquorice on the palate. Medium bodied but multi-layered and textural with a very long, aromatic finish.

Its 95pt scores, two Golds and other accolades speak to the quality of this Grenache from Elena Brooks. The Heirloom Vineyards website proudly announces this was "produced from our best McLaren Vale Vineyard whose clones and viticulture embody the very best in cutting edge but old school viticulture and winemaking. Hand tended vines, whole-bunch fermented, basket pressed and stored in French oak barrels from bespoke coopers." “There’s a density of fruit here, leavened with the verve of the season. Red and black cherries, raspberry compote, redcurrant jelly, red licorice, white pepper and a dusty, earthy quality. There’s a firm drive to the palate apace with the fruit weight, cinching without constricting, the finish both vibrant and savoury. 95pts” (Marcus Ellis, The Halliday Wine Companion). try it with Maroccan spiced pitas as the producers suggest.