Deep magenta in colour with a vibrant nose of dark fruit, chocolate, vanilla and cinnamon aromas. An exotic and full-bodied palate driven by flavours of fruits of the forest, blackcurrant and a hint of savoury spice bound together by succulent fine-grained tannins. A wine of great length which will reward many years in the cellar.

While many seek out the Basket Press Shiraz, it would be a disservice to ignore this opulent and concentrated Barossa Cabernet from Rockford. The Rifle Range actually has a lovely elegant and structured bent to it, some real class. A core of blackcurrant that is complimented by savour touches that lift the wine to some extraordinary levels.

Like the Command block, which is an amazing resource to the Elderton Estate, the Ashmead block has consistently produced small parcels of excellent quality fruit. The vineyard was almost destroyed in 1997 to make way for higher yielding vines, however the family made the decision to promote the vineyard to a higher destiny thus the Ashmead.

Kaesler Wines W.O.M.S. Shiraz Cabernet, Barossa Valley W.O.M.S. stands for ‘Weapon of Mass Seduction.’ When it comes to the name of this wine, there are two camps – those who like it and those who very much don’t. Conduct this survey before and after tasting and the results will be quite different. Many in the ‘no’ camp, will switch sides after tasting this classic Australian blend of Shiraz (planted 1961) and Cabernet Sauvignon (planted 1985). Expect black cherry, vanilla and swatch of savoury notes. The WONS is made only in years where the fruit reaches dizzying heights in terms of quality. After pressing, the free-run juice is collected over a day and a half before making its way into mature Nevers oak. There it will remain in that state for more than two years prior to the final blending. Bottled without fining or filtering, the result is a wine that Kaesler advise will age for 30 years. But why so conservative? It could go on and on but it does need a bit of time in the cellar.

SCHILD ESTATE Narrow Road Vineyard Shiraz Cabernet, Barossa Valley

Strong Cabernet traits of black coffee, dark mint chocolate and earthy notes, whilst the Barossa Shiraz shines through the glass with aromas of plum, dark cherry and spice. Vibrant and complex, the Cabernet notes continue on the palate, whilst the thick and luxurious Shiraz provides lovely dark cherry and spice with a smook as cream finish.

The Christopher This wine is a selection of the two finest barrels of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon in the winery for each vintage. It is dedicated to a young aspiring winemaker who had the potential to become one of the Barossas best. A blend of the two varieties that the region is most famous for and the two that Chris enjoyed working with the most. The wine is full bodied with a long seamless structure and balanced tannins. The rich dark fruit flavours of ripe Plum and Blackcurrants coat the palate. Aged for 24 months in new French oak to add spice and complexity to a wine that will last the ages.Rest in Peace our beautiful Christopher (1991-2018)

To retain the stylish varietal model he seeks with Shadrach, Grant Burge used a high proportion of Coonawarra fruit in 2000. Who can argue with the result! A minty complex wine, with depth and elegance.

Chris Ringland Limit Lodge Cabernet Mataro is a blend of exceptional fruit from exceptional vineyards, a new style from winemaker Chris Ringland and grape grower Adrian Hoffmann. The name Limit Lodge comes from a historical parcel within the Hoffmann vineyards, and is also appropriate given the limited number of bottles made. Matured in aged French oak, this is a juicy Cabernet blend rich in dark, plummy fruits with savoury notes of bittersweet chocolate, coffee, and anise. The finish is long with mouth-coating tannins, and a slight salinity. Plenty of potential for ageing.