Beautifully sculpted, racy, red-and-blackberry-fruit along with a lifted rosehip note as well, and some inky depths on the driven finish. Gets more and more perfumed and lively with air, it's another terrific effort from one of Australia's most gifted wine people. The wine, naturally fermented with a judicious use of whole clusters (on average 30%) in a combination of stainless steel, wood and concrete fermenters, also sees a shorter maturation than the Esprit and Bête Noir, et al. The 2018 was cropped from five high, exposed parcels in the Barossa and Eden Valley, where the soils are generally poor and skeletal - for the most part light, gravelly and silty sands over deeply weathered base rocks of varied origins. Vine age varies from 25 to 115 years old (averaging 50 years old), and all fruit is hand harvested. Spinifex was started in 2001 with the opportunity to source some great old vine Mataro growing in deep white drift-sand on the Barossa Valleys Western Ridge. Owned by husband and wife team, Peter Schell and Magali Gely, their focus is on regional wines from the traditional Mediterranean grape varieties that have been grown successfully in Australia for over 150 years - Shiraz, Mataro, Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Ugni Blanc, Grenache Gris, Marsanne and Semillon. They aim to make wines that display signatures of vineyard provenance and vintage, show regional typicity and have a consistent thread of 'house style' that reflects their preferences and experiences with wine. The wines they choose to make are predominately blends, the synergies derived from blending wines of differing character enhance the subtle complexities, even textures and profound personalities delivered from great old vine vineyards.

This is cracking – Barossa at its most elegant. 95pt, Gold, Great Value “Damn fine drinking” Barossa Rhône-style Syrah “A distinctly Rhôney style; modest in alcohol and packed with ripe plum and cranberry fruits, pressed wildflowers, exotic spice and meaty nuance. Spacious and savoury on the palate with a light floral tilt, fine powdery tannin architecture and a stony, amaro-flecked exit. Damn fine drinking. 95pts, Great Value” (Dave Brookes, The Halliday Wine Companion). "Michael and Susan Papps (née Yelland) set up this venture after their marriage in '05. It is easy for them to regard the Barossa Valley as their home because Michael has lived and worked in the wine industry in the Barossa Valley for more than 20 years. He has a rare touch, producing consistently excellent wines". (Halliday).

Strikingly vivid in colour with deep purple and magenta. There are energetic aromatics showing fresh, pure expression of fruit. Aromas of violets, dark rose, sweet plum, spice, licorice and fruitcake emanate from the glass. The palate is bursting with rich and bright dark fruit flavours. Well structured, with natural tannins providing a muscular framework the wine is full in body, flavour and mouth feel. A touch of creaminess leads to a lengthy finish completing this resplendent wine. Notably complex for the age, Zeitgeist is enjoyable now with its primal characters but is powered to cellar well for many years to come. Zeitgeist Shiraz by Kalleske Wines.

John Duval rose to winemaking fame as the craftsman of the mighty Penfolds Grange, before going it alone to further forge his reputation as a maker of great Shiraz. The aim of The Entity is to produce a wine true to the region. Rich and complex it shows ripe, spicy fruit characters with a complex savoury oak influence framed by fine lingering tannins.

Chris Ringland Shiraz 2005 represents an outstanding expression from the vineyard. The vine is powerful, voluptuous and ripe, yet the tannins are plush and mature, with moderate acidity. This vintage will have great longevity potential.

Krondorf is a name synonymous with the Barossa Valley with a long and prestigious history. Beginning life with the establishment of the Glenview winery back in the 1850s, Krondorf was reinvigorated by Grant Burge in 1978 and today has gone on to become one of the country's most awarded wineries. The Shiraz is a class-A, born and bred, full-bodied Barossa red. Bright garnet in colour with a vibrant nose of mulberry and hints of sweet strawberry. In balance tannin and acid balance along with a superb long length make this Barossan a wonderful value-for-money buy.

Elderton is one of Australia's great Shiraz producers, year in and year out. Brimming with ripe juicy blood-plum and chocolate flavours, this is almost like Black Forest cake in a bottle!

Every so often there are parcels of wine that generate tremendous excitement amongst the winemakers at Schild Estate. They set this aside to make Prämie, the wine that defines the best of the vintage and the land on which it was grown. Intense primary fresh plum flavours show again on the palate, where they hold their presence all the way through to roll out soft and pillowy at the finish. A firmly present, but fine tannin framework provides just enough focus and lift for the fruit to ensure added complexity, but retaining vibrancy to the mouth flavours of this Shiraz.

Yalumba has always had a passion to keep exciting barrels or small batch wines separate from the blending table, regardless of quantity. This is where the Steeple Vineyard Shiraz was discovered. Sourced from antique vines within the Yalumba Steeple Vineyard on the Barossa Valley floor, this Shiraz is a strong expression of terroir, with a dynamic scent, energetic freshness and cooling earthy tannins.

Yalumba Paradox Shiraz is an inky, crimson wine full of aromas of mixed spice and crushed black pepper, violets, fennel and hints of blueberries. The palate is like layers of velvet, with great structure showing lush red berries, olives and anise.