Colour is dark kirsch. Lifted dark cherry aromas with notes of liquorice and dark chocolate. Flavour packed with kirsch, prunes, dark chocolate and liquorice. Rich and muscular, like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Its fair to say Luke Lambert hasn't looked back since 'relocating' his Syrah to the Tibooburra vineyard. This southwest sloping site lies in the southeastern corner of the Valley, near Gembrook, and might be the coolest microclimate of the Yarra. The site is expertly managed by Greg Kerr, the grower who planted the vineyard in 2001. The soils here are considered very unusual for the Yarra, comprising a seam of black volcanic topsoil over yellow clay with a smattering of granite rock throughout. Furthermore, the quality of the clonal material in Tibooburra supplies Lambert with deeper and darker Syrah fruit that also has more depth and structure. This is what drew him to the site and a good chunk of the reason the Syrah has become a touchstone example of cool-climate Yarra Shiraz.

TARDIEU-LAURENT Cuvee Speciale, Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Chris Ringland Randall's Hill Vineyard Shiraz, Barossa Valley Randalls Hill is the second label from Chris Ringlands Stone Chimney Creek vineyard, a 2ha plot purchased by Chris in 1994. The juice is vinified in small batches to produce a collection of barrels which Chris matures under his house which sits beside the vineyard. Truly, a Barossa Valley domaine wine. The reserve Randalls Hill is a more fruit forward wine than the Barossa Ranges Shiraz.

DOMAINE PIERRE USSEGLIO Reserve des Deux Freres, Chateauneuf-du-Pape