This is good Vale shiraz. Powerful, sure, but the ripe fruit and extract are compressed into a foil of tension by impeccably massaged tannins, peppery verve and well-placed oak. Lilac, clove, charcuterie, tapenade, blue and black fruits and all the trimmings. A lithe, compact finish of considerable detail and refinement without the drying oak tannins of other wines in the range.

A rich wine that plies a pulpy jubilance laden with blackcurrant, blueberry, anise and baking spices alongside a bracken density doused with coffee grind and cocoa nibs. The result is a confluence of freshness, svelte tannins, a well-positioned curb of oak and a nourishing finish that will please traditionalists, as much as lovers of fresher contemporary styles.

This is a classic McLaren Shiraz: it is chocolaty, textural and fleshy and sourced from Whites Valley— a tiny pocket. The softness in the mouth becomes more clear once we know there is a little bit of American oak in the maturation mix. This is plush and intense, bloody and ferrous yet quite fine through the finish It is earthy and open-knit. Smart. Savoury.

Dark, inky and youthful in appearance. Lifted aromas of blackberry, stewed plum, dried herbs, anise and sweet spice. Full bodied, sweetly fruited and plush. Flavours of plum, mulberry, sweet oak and spice are all at play here. Tannins have purpose and deliver structure and the acidity is bright and snappy.

There is a lot to love about this 2019 G.A.M. Shiraz as it packs impressive levels of flavour, tremendous energy and brightness of fruit. Opaque in colour, the wine displays richly concentrated aromas of blueberry, liquorice, blackberry and dark chocolate with supportive, sweet oak. Well made and pitched, the 2019 offers lavish levels of black cherry flavour with excellent purity topped by mocha oak.