The Col Cross Story Somewhere in McLaren Vale youll find a very special block of old vine Shiraz. If you search for it, an olive grove to the west and an ancient chapel will be your guide. The shallow soils overlying a bedrock of limestone and the gentle sea breezes consistently provide us with fruit of exception quality. Dense, classic Shiraz characters of blackberry and dark cherry mesh seamlessly with spicy anise and cedary French oak. A concentrated palate of generous dark fruits and black cherry, the old vines contribute complex spices, cinnamon and nutmeg. A full bodied mouth filling wine that is perfectly balanced by a lingering structural finish.

Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz is Australian wine royalty the equal of any 1st Growth or Grand Cru. The architect of the modern Australian wine industry, Max Schubert, first created his masterpiece back in 1951 and released his first commercial vintage in 1952. Grange is a superbly perfumed and concentrated wine that combines the intense fruit and ripe tannins while extracting the nuances of new, fine grained American Oak after 20 months careful maturation. Known to be capable of ageing gracefully for well over 20 years, the 2007 Grange is certain to become another classic. Born out of a difficult vintage with low rainfall and higher than average summertime temperatures, the resulting wine is nothing more than a triumph of skill and terroir.

One Superblend. Two Interpretations. Superblend 802.A and Superblend 802.B represent two unique interpretations of the iconic Australian blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, sourced from unique parcels destined for Penfolds flagships.The Superblend 802.A components were aged separately in new American oak hogsheads for 22 months prior to being blended. The cabernet sauvignon makes its structural presence felt comprising 68% of the blend, while the 32% shiraz contribution adds generosity. Unashamedly bold, immediately Penfolds.

St Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of shiraz, and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. Proudly, a wine style that hasn’t succumbed to the dictates of fashion or commerce. St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters with age. It is matured in an assortment of old large vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of cabernet may sneak into the blend, the focal point for St Henri remains shiraz.Structural descriptors don’t usually lead the charge for St Henri, but they are certainly faithful to the 2019 vintage. A fine graphite core. The warmth and creaminess of Mexican sauce with the weight of wild game: venison loin, braised hare. Eventually sweet custard flavours emerge, smooth and textural. Portuguese tart! A suggestion of fine salinity aligns with mouth-watering acidity, cleansing. As always with St Henri, restrained, no need to be showy. The dark cocoa tannins are so fine they could be spun from silk. Will age and evolve beautifully for decades.

An ascent of dark summer pudding aromatics, underpinned by a dark berry fruit base. An excellent line across palate; fine and persistent.

As usual, the 2017 RunRig is approximately 2% Viognier. It spent almost 30 months in oak, 40% of which was new. Hints of peach or apricot appear on the nose, alongside notes of hickory smoke, cherries and baking spices. It's full-bodied and concentrated but supple and silky enough to seem lighter in the mouth, showing tremendous length and elegance on the finish, where it adds nuances of cinnamon and cocoa. Rating: 98/100.

V&A Lane Shiraz showcases a contrasting wine style from one of the most beloved grape varietals. A purposely early harvest to highlight a fresh red fruit spectrum, naturally lower alcohol, whole bunch inclusion, wild ferments, and the use of larger oak for maturation are just some of the techniques employed to make these beautiful food friendly wines. Bright cherry and blueberry complement more savoury elements of stalks, pastry, and spice. There is a light yet expansive quality to the palate. The pure fruits flow through to lingering crushed pepper and a biscuity finish.

Grange is arguably Australia’s most celebrated wine. Crafted with intensely structured shiraz grapes for an Australian style recognised as one of the world’s great wines. With an unbroken line of vintages from the experimental 1951, Grange demonstrates the synergy between shiraz and South Australia.

Since 1844, Penfolds has been grounded in experimentation, curiosity and uncompromising quality. This pioneering spirit still rings true after nearly two centuries and is what has helped them become one of the most celebrated winemakers in the world today. Penfolds Bin 180 Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz 2021 binds the past and present. It encases progress, tradition, and spirit as a commemorative wine to mark 180 years of winemaking at Penfolds. Made with fruit from esteemed Penfolds vineyard blocks in Coonawarra, Bin 180 highlights the long-standing relationship between Penfolds and the region.

The single vineyard Magill Estate Shiraz is intrinsically linked to Penfolds beginnings. Sourced from the Magill vineyard on the edge of Adelaide’s eastern suburbs (just eight kilometres from the city’s CBD), fruit is crushed, fermented and matured on-site at the original Penfolds Magill Estate Winery, established in 1844. Magill Estate Shiraz, first produced in 1983, is an elegant, medium-weight style with velvety texture and fine tannins, matured in both French and American oak. It is a sleek, contemporary wine, yet crafted the original way: hand-picked, vinified in open fermenters and then basket pressed to complete fermentation in barrel.