Powerful nose dominated by red fruits and delicate aromas of wood.

Pepper and spice in abundance, over dark cherry/berry fruits. There's a lovely graphite mineral note here too. The palate is medium-bodied and well balanced, finding a natural line of fruit and spice. Viticulture: Hand selected fruit sourced from five clones planted to various aspects, elevations and soil types. Yields were small but flavours were both concentrated and captivating. Winemaking: The fruit was cold soaked for 5 days before being inoculated in open fermenters. The wine was fermented gradually over 12 days then matured in French Puncheons and Hogsheads (25% new) for 12 months.

<p>Deep and dark purple in colour. Aromas of plums, mulberry and violets with hints of anise and chocolate, along with some background oak spice.</p> <p>Has flavours of spiced plums and blackcurrant, the wine is full flavoured and shows fresh dark berry fruit, some cloves and chocolate characters, and a lingering finish.</p>

Deep red with purple hues. The nose is complex with chocolate, coffee and raspberry aromas balanced by lifted liquorice, leather and a hint of white pepper. The palate is rich and full bodied with prominent raspberry flavours, alongside beautifully balanced oak with hints of vanilla. 2018 was a high-quality vintage in Barossa, with good yields and excellent flavours and colours in reds. The growing season started off well, thanks to winter 2017 rainfall being around 10% higher than average. Spring rainfall however, was lower than usual and drier soils, combined with warmer than average October and November days meant the vines grew quickly; flowering well and setting a good number of bunches. January and February were warm and dry, with very warm temperatures in February slowing the pace of ripening. The Indian summer of March and early April proved perfect for finishing off ripening before vintage, capping off a very good year.After picking, the grapes were fermented in a combination of five tonne concrete and seven tonne stainless steel fermenters for 7-12 days. The wine was then racked off into a combination of French and American hogsheads and matured for 22 months. One of the largest landholders in the Barossa, Grant Burge wines is a bastion of well made, value for money wines. Drawing on depth of experience in the region, Grant Burge and his wife Helen established the brand in 1988 and have developed a formidable range of wines across a broad spectrum of price points. The history of the Burge family and their long association with winemaking in the region can be traced back to March 1855, when noted tailor John Burge immigrated to the Barossa from Hillcot, near Pewsey in Wiltshire, England with his wife Eliza and their two sons. John worked as a winemaker at Hillside Vineyards and his love of viticulture was passed onto his son Meshach, who continued the tradition making his first wine in 1865, while becoming a prominent community leader. Meshach married Emma in 1883 and they had eight children. First-born Percival established the Wilsford Winery near Lyndoch in 1928. Percival had two sons, Noel and Colin, and Colin and his wife Nancy had one son, Grant. Following in the footsteps of his father and forefathers before him, Grant carried the winemaking tradition into the 21st century. Grant Burge Wines came under the ownership of the Accolade Wines' family of brands in 2015. Since then, the winery has flourished both nationally and internationally.

Soft, sumptuous berry fruit flavors, complemented by a fine tannic finish. This elegant shiraz is made with grapes sourced from the renowned Blewitt Springs vineyard in South Australia.

Colour is deep red. The nose shows aniseed, tar, FruChocs and spicy oak. The fine palate entry has mulberry, cranberry, aniseed and liquorice flowing delicately with Rhone-like spicy, chewy, savoury tannins.

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.