A bold McLaren Vale Shiraz showing voluptuous blackberry and plum flavours with hints of coffee and chocolate. Rich and satisfying, it can be enjoyed now or cellared for more complexity.

The nose is teeming with red fruits and florals.Raspberry and cherry with a hint rose and violet. The true giveaways to the vintage however, lie in the distinct white pepper and spice notes. The palate follows suit with bright red fruit and spice.

This richly flavoured wine is jet black with brilliant sheen. The fresh forest berry fruits are balanced with a smokey cedar like oak lift. The palate is generous, with rich upfront cassis fruit and hints of cinnamon spice. Sublime oak flavours give great persistence.

The Shingleback D Block Reserve Shiraz is named for the Davey Block of the Davey Estate vineyard and is the personal expression of the McLaren Vale from the eyes of winemaker John Davey. True reserve wines, the D Block is only made in exceptional vintages just like this 2009. In the glass the wine has a colour that is impenetrable purple red. On the nose there are aromas of mulberry and blackberry that mingle with dusty cashew, milky chocolate (typical of McLaren Vale), spice and forest floor. There are tight, fine tannins to counter the bold, fresh fruit which results in an alluring and unmistakable wine that expresses the essence of the vine, the time and the place.

There's a lot to adore about this Cabernet Sauvignon from a beloved family-owned winery. Halliday deemed it worthy of 92 points, and it's picked up four gold medals from Australian wine shows. But if that pedigree doesn't impress you, one sip of this beautiful red will.