The best

• red wine
• white wine
• champagne
• rosé
• whisky
• spirits
• beer

deals in Australia

Name With our love for the ocean and the stunning coastline on the cusp of McLaren Vale being a massive draw card to calling this fantastic little town home it made sense to link the name of our Reserve Shiraz to it. The Squid Ink name originated from the enticing first impression of the black, dye like depth of colour this wine resonates. Vineyard Our Squid Ink vineyard is the epitome of what defines one of the greatest vineyards in Australia where the famous Black Bay of Biscay Clay soil ensures fantastic fruit. Referred to by some local friends as ‘Mayfair’ the use of sustainable viticulture and having true respect for the value of our vineyards and the fruit they create. Winery In the winery the Squid Ink Shiraz fruit is treated with utmost respect, ensuring quality from start to finish. Fermented slowly for gentle extraction of colour, flavour and tannin, the wine is monitored closely. Following fermentation, the wine is then matured in the finest of predominantly new American oak with the 2021 seeing 60% new oak Hogheads for 18 months. Maturation 18 Months in American Oak, 60% new oak Colour Deep intense dark, almost black with a purple hue. Nose There’s a depth of concentration here only seen in some year and here I think it’s reminiscent of the 2010 or 2015 vintage. The complexity seeks several sniffs to grasp. Undeniably intriguing the earthy, savoury character lingers awaiting full expression from a little more time all while tightly embraced with layers of fruit. Palate Like the nose this wine pulls you in for more. The palate is timeless, with a firm but grounded texture the all-encompassing finish drives the wine across the mouth, leaving a full, expressive and delicious lasting experience. This wine is what we believe to be a true representative of Shiraz from our region. As an Estate owned, sustainably grown, single vineyard Shiraz, we have the ability to deliver a world-class wine consistently that is truly at the top of its game. This wine, like our lives, is wonderful in youth, but with patience and development of the wines fruit, along with the integration of the finest of oak this wine will also develop wonderfully. Potential 15+ years.

The Vicar is one of Chapel Hill’s flagship wines and is an annual vineyard selection of Chapel Hill’s most outstanding and expressive parcels of McLaren Vale Shiraz. The vineyard blocks were harvested and fermented separately in small batch open fermenters. Gentle plunging was utilised for cap management and all of the ferments were left on skins for a range of 13 days to 22 days. Following gentle basket pressing, the free run and pressing fractions were combined. During the subsequent 21-month oak maturation period, the barrels were periodically racked and returned to ensure the integration of the tannins back into the structure of the wine. To preserve purity and character the wine is made with minimal additions and is allowed to clarify naturally without the use of fining or filtration. This is wonderfully opulent Vicar. Inky black and packed with blackberries, plums and dark chocolate with a twist of aniseed. The nose brims with a complex mix of wild herbs, violets, black liquorice and a sprinkle of wild fennel. A powerful wine that flows across your palate unveiling layers of delicious flavours and succulent tannins with an impossibly long finish. Purity in a glass.

CLARENDON HILLS Brookman Vineyard Merlot, McLaren Vale Clarendon Hills’ Brookman Vineyard is among the highest in McLaren Vale, 250m higher and 10km north-east of the McLaren Vale township. The vines were planted on clay soils in the late 1960s and are dry-grown. Grapes are hand-picked 2-3 weeks later than on the flats, following a long, mild and generally consistent ripening period. Fermentation as whole berries, using wild yeasts, precedes 18 months maturation in tight-grained French Oak, 85% new, the rest between one and four years old. The final wine is a barrel selection. Brookman Merlot is noted for mulberry and blackcurrant fruit, spice and Christmas cake aromas, opulence, richness of flavour and softness with finely balanced tannins.

In the glass the 2010 S has a black core with a deep red rim. There are elegant aromas of red black fruits, and spicy earthy notes with a hint of grilled meats, graphite and controlled oak. On the palate the fruit continues with rich plums, and blueberries and delicate spice and chocolate which all roll on to a juicy palate with fine tannins that go on ... and on. Smidge recommends drinking this wine betwen 2014 and 2030.

The EJ Shiraz is the jewel in Paxton's organic and biodynamic crown. Awarded 95 points in the Halliday Wine Companion 2017, this wine is the result of low yielding vines that are more than a century old. The flavour is elegant and round and the nose offers vanilla, black current and oak.

Lloyd Reserve Shiraz is produced from a single vineyard at Coriole, planted in 1919 by Geoffrey Kay. It was first retained as a separate wine in 1989, and is one of Langton's Classified Wines of Australia. This vineyard typically produces a wine of great intensity and can be cellared for many years. The wine is matured in French oak with typically about 40% new.

The pinnacle of Chapel Hill's best parcels of red come together to form The Vicar, a prestige full blooded McLaren Vale Shiraz of great distinction. Painstakingly chosen from selected single-vineyard McLaren Vale sites, The Vicar is overflowing with ripe mulberry and licquorice flavours interlinked with sublime oak influence from over 80% French oak influence.

This wine forms part of Clarendon Hills 'Grand Cru' classification and is the ultimate expression of Grenache for the winery. Something to keep an eye on over the next 20 years.