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.

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.

A typically full flavoured Clare Valley Shiraz from the crew at Annie's Lane; exhibiting ripe, plummy fruit characters with a touch of spice and some regional minty notes.

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.

Penfolds Max's Shiraz is a tribute to former Chief Winemaker, Max Schubert, a legend in Penfolds history. His constant pursuit of excellence paved the way for those who followed in his footsteps, growing the brand's status and heritage in the process. Fruit-driven and generous in flavour, this fine red has a contemporary, persistent palate with subtle tannins leading to a soft, oak finish.

Penfolds Max's Shiraz Cabernet, South Australia Penfolds Maxs series of wines pay tribute to legendary Australian winemaker and creator of Grange, Max Schubert. Classic Australian style, the Shiraz Cabernet is made to be enjoyed immediately, no need to cellar.

An elegant cool-climate Shiraz with aromas of blackberry, plum, olive and subtle spice. The palate is vibrant, yet lacy, with refined notes of black fruits, violets and white pepper. The gentle tannins intertwine effortlessly with a blackcurrant fresh acidity and the light spice of considered French oak.Beyond the Wilderness, at the extremities of the earth, deep in the southern oceans lies a pristine land. Cool by prevailing westerlies whipped up by the Roaring Forties, this is Tasmania. Only 1% of this remarkable land is planted to vines which are producing some of the world’s most exciting new wines.

First made in 1959, Penfolds Kalimna Shiraz is an icon in the field of warm-climate Shiraz. Always ripe, robust and generously flavoured. The Bin 28 is named after the Kalimna vineyard that was purchased back in 1945 and from which the original fruit was sourced from. Today, the Bin 28 is a great example of the Penfolds dedication to multi-region, multi-vineyard blending. The Barossa Valley will always remain an integral part of the Bin 28 blend providing rich, vibrant primary fruit flavours.

Recognised as one of the first vineyards in the Hunter Valley, Audrey Wilksonson has a long and storied history in the region. They continue today to produce wines of region character with fine craftsmanship. Their Hunter Valley Shiraz is a wine in perfect harmony. Majority French oak is used to mature a wine that has flavours of intense cherries and violets overlapping powerful mulberry and that traditional Hunter character of forest floor and earth.

McGuigan Wines is going alcohol-free, well at least for these Zero range of wines. The varieties include shiraz, sparkling, rosé, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc and are now available at your local first Choice Liquor Market store. The wines were in development for over two years and use the latest spinning cone technology, working at low temperatures to gently remove alcohol after the fermentation process, ensuring the wines maintain their delicate fruit flavours. The wines were created to maintain strong varietal characteristic, it added, containing no artificial sweeteners or additives.