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.

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.

Deep and meaty in its expression, a fleshy and red cedar-like undertone lines the typically velvety texture. Sandown Cabernet Sauvignon by Clarendon Hills.

Exceptionally potent and powerful, initially giving the (false) impression its alcohol is more than 14%. Retasting brings it back into perspective, the two varieties bonded, yet each preserving its varietal integrity and structural architecture. A classic Australian blend of exceptional quality, destined to outlive most who taste it.

Munda Syrah Kaurna Country Blewitt Springs (McLaren Vale) Syrah Munda chooses minimal intervention in the winery, second and third use oak regimes to showcase Munda, and prefers to bottle relatively early to reflect the brightness of their wines. Sourced from grapes grown on Kaurna Country, this Syrah is handpicked, partially destemmed and fermented in wild yeast for 10 days to extract the optimal flavour. Vibrant fruit combines with notes of red flowers, cacao and layers of cooking spice. A medium to full-bodied wine, the Syrah expresses cherry, blueberry, and plum on the palate with the quintessential biscuity tannins of Blewitt Spring lingering on the long finish.

The Old Vine Syrah patch was planted in the 1930s and is on a slope of the property with a westerly aspect. These old gnarly vines are planted in heavily decomposed ironstone and quartz. The style of wine is completely individual and the winemaking team always comment on how light the style is and how exotic the spices are in this vineyard. The spices come across like incense mixed with deeply aromatic and smoky lapsang oolong tea. Exotic characters such as sandalwood, cocoa powder, sarsaparilla and cola elements top the roast meat and flinty, strawberry and cream palette of this wine. The lighter frame on this style is highly attractive and the intoxicating spices combine to create something highly exotic.