Shiraz is Australia's most widely planted grape. It's grown in almost every wine region in the country, with styles varying widely depending on the region.
These eight wines, all rated between 92 and 96 points by the Halliday Tasting Team, show just how versatile this variety can be. Take, for example, the "supple, silky and red-fruited" shiraz from Audrey Wilkinson in the Hunter Valley, which scored 96 points. Or, if you're after more "growl, power and tannic drive", sample Chapel Hill's The Devil Shiraz from McLaren Vale. And for a "modern, fruit-driven style", why not try the 2023 Bellarine Shiraz from Yes said the seal?
Priced between $25–299, each of these shiraz wines deserves a place on your table this winter.
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highly recommended shiraz
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Audrey Wilkinson
Museum Release Winemakers Selection Shiraz 2017
Hunter ValleyThis is a fascinating wine, as despite '17 being an extremely hot vintage, it retains beautiful freshness, likely due to the inclusion of 15% whole bunches in fermentation. It has a gorgeous, harmonious aroma, a mix of red plums, fragrant herbs and violets. The mid-palate is beautifully supple, silky and red-fruited. Originally rated 96 on release, it holds this score today, a testament to its inherent quality. -
Chapel Hill
The Devil Shiraz 2021
McLaren ValeFrom a single block of '77-planted vines; 100% French Oak, 23% new for 20 months. This is the second pinnacle release from the estate’s oldest vines and, for me, a step up from what was a very good debut. Darkly fruited but open and expressive, detailed and very long through the finish, the tannins finely tooled, the whole package feeling intently of a significant piece of earth, with nothing over polished or worked. Blackberry and dried black cherry, sour cherry, too, bitter chocolate and anise, the palate textural rather than overly rich, though it certainly has some growl, power and tannic drive to it. Very good indeed. -
Chapel Hill
The Vicar Shiraz 2022
McLaren ValeFrom a range of sites, this was matured in French hogsheads for 21 months. There’s likely a little recent fill oak at play here, too, with it feeling glossier than the 25% new noted. Rather than the gentle village vicar, this has a bit more of the fire-and-brimstone-preacher thing going on. Not in overt heft, but rather in its dark certainty. It’s still serenely balanced, and that oak is integrated, yet there is classic gravitas. Blackberry, tapenade, anise, clove, leather and iron, the fruit neither cloaked nor obvious, the whole picture composed. It’s a compelling sermon. -
Barristers Block Wines
JP Shiraz 2021
WrattonbullyThe wine opens with intertwined black and red berries. Plum compote, powdered cocoa and espresso poured over chocolate gelato. There is cherry liquor and Christmas cake, a red fig sweetness balanced by silky tannins. This is meeting all the requirements for indulgence with some lovely sarsaparilla and clay brick notes. A wine that has come together in bottle and is drinking well now, although, if you're inclined to cellar, you could also give this another five years. -
Biscay Road
Shiraz 2022
Barossa ValleyWinemaker Dan Graham is turning out some lovely wines from the Biscay Road estate on the edge of Tanunda and Bethany. At the lighter end of full bodied, it's a purely framed, fleshy amalgam of ripe satsuma plum, blackberry and black cherry fruits daubed with baking spices, dark chocolate nibs, cedar, olive tapenade, violets, panforte and turned earth. Smooth with impressive sustain, a powdery tannin architecture and excellent quality at this price. -
Yes said the seal
The Bellarine Shiraz 2023
GeelongWhole-berry fermentation, matured in French oak (10% new). A youthful crimson purple. A bright, modern, fruit-driven style with its bouquet of red and black fruits together with dried herbs and floral notes. Equally energetic on the medium-bodied, tasty and nicely balanced palate. It's very approachable now but with more than enough stuffing to reward at least five years in the cellar. -
Forester Estate
Home Block Shiraz 2023
Margaret RiverIt comes out full of fruit, oak and extract. And plenty of appeal. Black plums, licorice, sweet cedary oak and spices with blackcurrant pastilles. Full bodied, with luscious, ripe tannins (and lots of them), yet a certain suppleness here with slippery texture across the palate. -
James & Co Wines
Shiraz 2022
BeechworthStainless steel fermentation, aged in new and seasoned French oak. Super fragrant example of cool-climate shiraz. Ripples with gorgeous spice, running from licorice, pepper and baking spices through to clove, against a solid background of black berries and plum. It's a heady mix. The palate is well defined by fresh acidity and fine tannins.
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