Back in 1998 Chief Winemaker, Chris Hatcher, decided it was time to take Wolf Blass into the modern world and the result was a single varietal Shiraz that was 100% aged in French Oak, unlike their famous flagship the Black Label which is a blend and aged in American Oak. A wonderful contemporary version of Wolf Blass that is a cavalcade of rich blueberry, blackberry and complex elements of dark chocolate and warm spice. Superbly long on the palate with an obvious hint to a long future in the cellar.

Although this wine is plush, dense and rich, it possesses a compelling percussion and balance. Right up there with Grange and Hill Of Grace as one of Australia's best Shiraz, and from one of the greatest vintages too!

The bouquet is delightfully complex. In its aromatic depths are plum, spice and clove notes, with a hint of vanilla and even roasted meat. Immediately supple and beguiling, the flavours keep building with plum, spice and clove layered over chocolate and vanilla notes. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has an assertive texture with abundant fine tannins. Seductively poised, this wine reflects all that is great about Shiraz grown in ancient Barossan soils.

Chris Ringland Randall's Hill Vineyard Shiraz, Barossa Valley Randalls Hill is the second label from Chris Ringlands Stone Chimney Creek vineyard, a 2ha plot purchased by Chris in 1994. The juice is vinified in small batches to produce a collection of barrels which Chris matures under his house which sits beside the vineyard. Truly, a Barossa Valley domaine wine. The reserve Randalls Hill is a more fruit forward wine than the Barossa Ranges Shiraz.

Deep ruby, purple in colour showing intense and creamy aromas of dark compote berry fruit with hints of blackberry, plums and mulberries peeking through. On the palate waves of the same dark berry fruit show early providing a density and voluptuousness to the mouth-feel that remains deep into the mouth and rolls out through the back. It is joined by just a hint of spice and some subtle glimpses of faint leather and sandalwood.

In 2015 there was a mini heatwave early January followed by mild days and relatively cool nights. February and March were very dry, vines with supplementing irrigation held up very well thanks to minimal bursts of heat through this period. The highlight for reds was Shiraz with grapes showing an abundance of spicy fruits with colour, richness balanced tannins and vibrant fruit length. The fruit for this wine was sourced from a single vineyard in the Maslin’s Beach area of McLaren Vale grown on the rare geological Blanche Point Formation. The wine was fermented in a traditional open fermenter using gentle cap management techniques. The pressed wine was matured for 24 months in 100% new French hogsheads. This wine has not been fined and is unfiltered.A beautifully perfumed bouquet including freesias and tuber roses entwine with the alluring fragrance of dark ripe cherries with glimpses of exotic anise. The palate is a seamless and perfectly lineal expression of dark rich and expensive fruit with a lasting slightly chocolate finish.