The Wild Pixie by d'Arenberg has an unmistakeable connection with the earth from which it emerged, and is the perfect accompaniment to a rustic BBQ cooked over a glowing camp fire on a cold starry night. The flavours and aromas of earth, soot and game perfectly complement the setting. Primary blackberry and mulberry notes appear as the Shiraz develops in the glass. A generous warm wine with an abundance of savoury and dark fruits, completed by a fine emery like tannin trailing to subtle wood spice and vanilla notes.

From two small vineyards that stood out for their ability to capture true McLaren Vale chocolate, spices and an amazing depth of red fruits and blackberry.

Bright dark black garnet colour. Lively, spicy aromas and flavours of blackberry pie a la mode, spicy praline, and mole with an oily, tangy, dry-yet-fruity medium-full body and a warming, subtle, breezy spiced cherries, chocolate mint and nuts, and cedar finish with firm, chewy tannins and moderate oak.

Kay Brothers Basket Pressed Shiraz has a rich and complex bouquet that promises something special and it certainly delivers. The palate is laden with generous plum, blackberry and spice and the length is exceptional. This one is a keeper! More to the savoury side of Shiraz, it is about texture more than just fruit.

This Tomich Hill Shiraz has a flavoursome palate which displays juicy mulberry and plum with hints of pepper, spice and chocolate. Grippy tannins are enhanced by a long elegant finish.

It is sweetly fragrant and instantly appealing on the nose showing dark and purple fruit aromas together with tar, game, cocoa and spicy oak nuances. The palate is rich, intense and fleshy, displaying excellent power as well as rounded mouthfeel, wonderfully complemented by velvety texture and silky tannins. Impressively flavoursome and very long on the finish with loads of delectable flavours. At its best: now to 2027

Made by Corrina Wright, a sixth generation member of the Oliver family, this is McLaren Vale Shiraz to the extreme. There's bold chocolate and blackberry flavours, a hint of pepper and smokey overtones. The alcohol sits at the higher end of the spectrum and there's plenty of vanilla oak, but the fruit intensity pulls it all together to produce a superbly balanced wine.