Balthazar was the last of the Babylonian kings whose empire ended after he drank from a mythical sacred chalice. A fascination with ancient history and an appreciation of the deep sense of irony that befalls those who choose their drinks - and drinking vessels - unwisely, prompted the name. concentrated and generous blackberry, dark cherry, plum & dark chocolate flavours balanced by velvety tannins and savoury oak complexity delivering texture and structure on the long, persisting palate.

Head Wines was started in 2006 by Alex Head. It focuses on single site Rhône varietals from the Barossa and Eden Valleys in South Australia. Head Red is a barrel cull from Barossa vineyards including 'The Blonde', 'The Brunette' and The Contrarian single vineyard Shiraz wines. It allows a pre-view of the vintage quality to come and keeps the quality of the Single vineyard wines as high as possible. The wine receives 12 months barrel age in predominantly older French hogsheads allowing the vintage and terroir to show clearly. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Based at their Home of the Brave winery in the Barossa, First Drop describe their wine-making philosophy as a sensibility for tradition with a passion for innovation. This Shiraz is garnet red with purple hues. Complex nose of dark cherry and blackberry aromas with a hint of forest floor and spice.

The Penfolds Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz is a relatively new addition to the Penfolds stable, sourced from the Barossan sub-district, Marananga. Simply a revelation, this wine is an inky, black beast in the glass with lashings of dark chocolate and coffee accented fruit, yet this years offering shows a lingering, soft structured finish that will see the wine cellar very nicely.

St Hallett's Blackwell is big Shiraz for the lovers of ripe concentrated fruit and a generous measure of vanillin oak. A classic regional style, enjoy this beauty with robust beef or game dishes.

For all those who fell head over heels for the astounding Chris Ringland CR Shiraz in the past few years, the news has just gotten even more exciting with the release of Chris Ringland Reservation Shiraz. Concentration doesn't even begin to describe this truly luxurious Barossa Shiraz. When harvested, the fruit displayed intense jammy, plum and prune aromas which were simply crying out for some extra maturation. After which the wine has now begun to show off a wonderful array of warm spicy notes with that trademark mouthfilling soft tannin and gentle acidity. With the capability to cellar for another 5 to 8 years, this is the Barossa Shiraz you have to own!

If you love your big, bold and brash Barossa Shiraz, then look no further. Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz produce wine of utmost power and strength. Their Gnarly Dudes is a perfect example. Bold black and blue fruits dominate with a healthy smattering of oak to hold everything in place. Sumptuous!

Grant Burge reds always display classic Barossa style. This Shiraz has all the hallmarks with ripe cherry fruit smoky overtones and a good measure of sweet vanillin oak. In recent years has really began to hit its straps and with the last few Barossa vintages being on the warm side, this is a wine for the 'old school' Shiraz lover.

Langmeil have long been known for big, robust, full-bodied Barossa red wines. Wines that serious red wine drinkers yearn for. This release of the Hangin' Snakes Shiraz is placed right in the 'wheel house' for those lovers of the powerful and intense. Attractive plush blackberries, full flavoured with silky perfumed tannins; a mouth filling wine of great poise.

This Two Hands Shiraz is full bodied but very buoyant. Bright flavours are lifted and accented by notes of fresh blue and blackberry with hints of plum. Creamy complexity through the palate adds depth and interesting texture. Palate has great depth and a coating nature but doesnt feel heavy. Tannins start mid-palate and leave a lovely rolling chewy nature. Spicy through the finish with vanilla and sweet baking spices.