Clarendon Hills is the living vision of one of the world's greatest Shiraz winemakers, Roman Bratasiuk. The dream was realised in 1990 and is now home to some of the most outstanding and hard to get single vineyard wines in Australia. The Astralis is the flagship wine in the Clarendon Hills portfolio, and while this vineyard is not treated any differently to the others, it garners the most worldwide attention due to its incredible expression and timeless elegance. From an Easterly aspect and planted on a 45 degree ascending slope, Australis has phenomenal varietal length and will repay the patient cellarer for more than 15 years.

Jean-Luc Colombo has forged an international reputation as one of the most visionary and imaginative winemakers in Frances Rhône Valley and especially in Cornas. Les Terres Brûlées (The Burnt Earths) is the prettilest expression of Syrah from the Cornas appellation. From a mixture of 20 to 60 year old vines this wine is a subtle blend I fulfill each year from different plots. The tannins, powerful but elegant, are softened by a well-managed maturation of two years in oak. The wine of intense ruby colour has aromas of raspberry, liquorice, coffee and a long spicy finish. Linger over this wine with a rib roast of beef and dauphinoise potatoes. Will open in 2 to 3 years, but may be cellared for 15 years. Certified Organic. 100% Syrah.

Levantine Hill Estate Syrah 2013 has bright crimson colour. Brooding, lifted complex aromas of red berry compote, musk, cardamom and white pepper compliment the underlying nutmeg and vanillin bouquet. The elegant medium-bodied palate abounds with spice and earthy nuances in a concentration of savouriness. The silky ripe tannins have been deftly integrated with the underlying oak providing carriage for the fruit weight and lingering flavours to a pronounced and persistent finish.

Displaying a deep magenta colour, this Bullnose Syrah gives off lifted fragrances of violets, allspice, berry fruit and dark star anise from its nose. The ripe and fruity palate contains flavours of cherry, espresso and raspberry that mesh harmoniously with the smooth and velvety tannins to produce a dazzling, fresh and easy drinking wine. Slow roasted BBQ pork, smoked seitan steaks and spicy Asian dishes are some great accompaniments to this mouth-watering Syrah.

Tim Atkin MW says Sicily is “now one of the most exciting wine regions in Europe, blessed with a combination of abundant sunshine, varied terroirs, good indigenous grapes.” Plus, it has the investment to make the most of these advantages. This gorgeous Syrah comes from David di Prima, whose grandfather Gaspare planted the vines decades ago. The vineyards lie on high hills overlooking the Lago Arancio (Orange Tree Lake) reservoir. Originally a river, it was dammed in the 1950s. On rare occasions the water level drops to reveal the ruins of a Moorish temple. With deep colour, cherry, spice and chocolate character, this Syrah goes well with grilled red meats and full flavoured local dishes such as aubergine caponata or cucuzza squash bake.

"Replacing the Petit Chapelle cuvee and first made in 2015, the 2016 Hermitage La Maison Bleue is smoking good. Black fruits, charcoal, powdered rock, currants and chocolate notes all give way to a big, concentrated, impressively structures barrel sample that has tons of potential. I expect the tannin will have integrated by the time this is released, but a few years of bottle age still recommended." - Jeb Dunnuck

Graillot is arguably one the finest winemakers in the Rhone Crozes-Hermitage region. On a cycling holiday in Morocco, he discovered vineyards along the Atlantic Coast, in the Atlas Mountains. In spite of only 20 hectares of vineyards, it is relatively cool climate thanks to the ocean breezes and an altitude of about 500m. The vines' aged between 10-40 years old. There is no use of herbicide or fungicide treatment to the vineyard. All the work is done by hand, which reduced damage to the grapes and resulting in an elegant yet intensely concentrated Syrah.

The 2017 vintage in Orange was unusually warm and dry, giving this wine a strong backbone of ripe fruit characters.The wine is a bright dense cherry red with a tinge of brick red.The bouquet exhibits lifted spicy ripe fruit and light earthy plummy Shiraz aromas, combined with soft vanillin oak characters. Full bodied, the length of the palate is filled with very youthful plummy spicy Shiraz flavours. These fruit characters are balanced by drying oak tannins which contribute both complexity and length to the wine. With a finish that is typical of cold climate Shiraz fruit crisp, clean and elegant.