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.

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.

In the glass: Deep red. On the nose: Lifted aromas of tar, espresso and black plum. On the palate: Full-bodied, round and smooth with a rich, dense core of dark fruit and a warm mouth-feel. Quite deluxe with lovely structure and depth of flavour with ripe tannins and well judged oak providing support.

Rockbare has only been making wine since 2000, but the results have been impressive and this wine was the highest scoring Shiraz in the Tasting Panel in 2018. In the glass: Inky dense red to black.On the nose: Super-ripe black cherry cola with amazing spice, cedar, vanilla and nutmeg. On the palate: Massive, densely-packed, perfectly ripe black fruits producing a flavour-saturated fruit package over phenomenal inky tannins.

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.

Wirra Wirra's flagship Shiraz has won many accolades over the years, including the 'world's best Shiraz'. It's loaded with distinctive McLaren Vale blueberry and chocolate characters, supported by plums, violets and spice, and tannin structure destined for 10 more years in the cellar.

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.

Vibrant, youthful colour, medium density and lovely purple tints for this Shiraz by Brokenwood. Being a cooler year the aromas are more on the spice cherry side than ripe and opulent. Medium weight palate and again spice and savoury edges. The tell-tale McLaren Vale jube fruit is there along with background oak.