Australia's most prestigious single vineyard icon, Henschke Hill of Grace's provenance from this small Eden Valley patch makes it the ultimate statement or rare gift. Stephen and Prue Henschke continue the tradition that is their family legacy with utmost class and ingenuity as can be tasted in this remarkable single-vineyard shiraz.

The Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde offers up lots of Christmas fruitcake, tapenade, black currant, forest floor, incense and camphor characteristics.

One of the benchmarks of Barossa Shiraz, Peter Lehmann's Stonewell is a classic example of the rich concentrated old vine style. While bold on the palate, there is always an inherent complexity to the Stonewell that enables it to be compared with all of the great Australian wines produced today.

Château La Nerthe is harmonious and balanced: pretty red garnet color with purplish hints. On the nose, a mix of ripe red fruits (cherry) and vegetal scents (licorice, anise). Silky textured, the wine is round, pulpy, with noticable but supple tannins offering red stone fruits (plum) and herbal notes (menthol) on the finish. The whole confirms a solar vintage but without excess of alcohol or dryness, the wine reveals on the contrary balance with a nice freshness to watch for a decade or more.

A clonal selection from a single vine planted in 1853, the subsequent plantings necessarily relatively young, but firing on all cylinders. It is a graceful wine with a silky texture, red and purple fruits foremost; the tannins superfine, the finish lingering, the aftertaste fresh. Lovely now or in 20+ years. Alcohol: 14%. Closure: diam. Date tasted: Jan 2021. Drink by: 2038. Price: $150. Rating: 97/100.