Nitschke Block Shiraz displays rich, opulent fruit with a fantastic balance of texture. Lifted notes of greengage plums are first to emerge from what is a tightly-wound wine. There is also a warming spice element of subtle white pepper as well as some dark cherry and plum flavours.

Whenever we taste a blind Shiraz line up where this wine is featured, it's hard not to be lured into its enticing character of purity and style. Hauntingly akin to a Northern Rhone example, violets, spice, wild herb and earth wrap around a delicious core of red fruits and plum. Bravo Nick O'Leary. 'Canberra's benign 201213 growing season produced, in abundance, grape quality not seen in the much cooler, wetter 2011 and 2012 vintages. Our exciting 2013 reds include Nick O'Leary's shiraz a jaw dropper that kept judges gaping as they piled gongs on it at the 2014 Royal Brisbane Wine Show. They gave it a gold medal, then three trophies: best one-year-old red of the show (Stoddart trophy), best shiraz of the show and best red of the show. This is a significant achievement for Canberra shiraz and not just for O'Leary. It provides yet more recognition, in a hotly contested national event, of our region's distinctive style. O'Leary's highly perfumed, medium-bodied wine shows the vibrant red berry- and-spice character of cool-grown shiraz on a luscious, silky palate, cut with fi ne tannins. This is a lot of wine at a modest price.' (2013 Vintage) - 4½ Stars. - Canberra Times, 03 Sep 2014.

This cool climate Shiraz is superb - enticing the drinker with spice, clove and red berry fruit aromas. The palate is rich and concentrated, paying scant homage to its cool climate origins.

The Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz is an opulent concentrated and complex style with plenty of spicy fruit and a dash of chocolate. True to the style that Wolf himself made from the very beginning of this now iconic brand, this is very tasty and enjoyable now yet it has the weight and complexity to improve with cellaring.

Clare Valley icon producers, Taylors, have hand-selected small parcels of Shiraz fruit from their premium vineyards in the region to produce a Shiraz of real concentration and beauty. Winemaker, Mitchell Taylor brings this full-bodied red to life with bold, ripe fruit and plush, firm tannin. Will comfortably cellar the next 5 years, yet will reward those who can't wait that long to enjoy intensity of this wine with a robust meal.

d'Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz is a firm favourite with many McLaren Vale Shiraz lovers and for good reason. This is another great example of the rich, full-bodied style with aromas of ripe blackberry and spice that mingle with minty peppery notes. The palate is full-flavoured, supple in texture with a velvety finish.

The Adams brothers and their vineyard are responsible for many of the iconic wines that take pride of place in many cellars. Parcels of their best fruit is kept aside for their own label, Brothers In Arms. Fantastic Langhorne Creek concentration is on show here with layers of chocolate and dark, black fruit. A brute with a touch of style.

Fox Creek Short Row Shiraz is a terrific McLaren Vale Shiraz with lovely suppleness of texture. Plum aniseed and rich fruit-cake flavours are woven around spicy oak and light lingering tannin.

Bowen Estate Shiraz shared similar firm structure as it's sibling, the Cabernet Sauvignon. It's lifted aromas of ripe black fruits, warming spices and hint of earthy background makes it a welcoming drink with hearty food.

Pirramimma Shiraz is full-fruited and powerful, with sweet plum and mocha along with cinnamon notes and dark chocolate which are all typical regional characters of McLaren Vale.