Top Australian Shiraz
2019 Penfolds, Bin 128 Shiraz, Coonawarra 6x75cl
"A regional style aged exclusively in French oak hogsheads (24% new), the 2019 Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz hints at cracked pepper and cedar on the nose, backed by deep, plummy fruit and brighter notes... of red raspberries. It's medium-bodied (almost light, by Penfolds's standards), framed by silky tannins and a lingering, elegant finish. Drinkable now, it has at least a decade of longevity ahead of it." 91 pts., Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com
£108 / Case£18 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2016 Ben Glaetzer, Amon Ra, Barossa Valley 6x75cl
"Dramatic, intense and powerful, the 2016 Amon Ra Shiraz recalls the 2004 in its youth, crammed with layers of fruit, complex, savory elements and rich, velvety tannins. It's full-bodied,... characterized by notes of grilled meat, espresso, black olive, cassis, vanilla, baking spices and an undercurrent of loamy earth. Yes, it's unapologetically big and bold, the product of a warm, sunny climate and ripe grapes, but it does show a sense of decorum, restraint and elegance on the long finish." 96 pts., Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com
£335 / Case£55.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2018 Penfolds, Grange, South Australia 6x75cl
"This wine comes with high expectations—as does the vintage. The 2018 vintage across South Australia (and cheekily, we could probably extend the accolade to all of Australia) was excellent. It was... warm, but without incident, and responsible for powerfully ripe, serious wines. Many producers made some of their best wines in this vintage. So here, to the 2018 Grange: there is spiced raspberry, lashings of salted licorice, red curry paste, layers of forest berries, rendered lamb fat and crushed pink peppercorns to start. In the mouth, the tannins close around the fruit with the same polish and seamlessness as the 2008, possibly the 2004? Very different vintages, but there is a textural similarity for me. This is polished and glossy and so very pretty. It contains 3% Cabernet Sauvignon this year, and 69% Barossa, 18% McLaren Vale and the balance from Clare Valley. Each of the regions brings with it its own characteristics. Barossa brings the red dirt, blood, deli meat and rust. McLaren Vale brings the plush purple fruits with a side of meat and licorice. Clare brings the polish, the opulence and the velvet texture. With their powers combined, this is an extraordinary Grange. One of the true greats, which will only get better as it ages." 99 pts., Erin Larkin, robertparker.com
£2,175 / Case£362.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2017 Penfolds, Bin 798 RWT Shiraz, Barossa Valley 3x150cl
"Sourced only from the Barossa Valley, RWT is aged exclusively in French oak, giving it two major points of difference from the rest of the Penfolds range. Always a sexy, voluptuous wine (and... admittedly a personal favorite), the 2018 RWT Shiraz ratchets that up to new heights in a great Barossa vintage, boasting layers of berry-like fruit, refined vanilla shadings and baking-spice notes, plus more exotic elements like star anise and cocoa powder. It's full-bodied and plush without being unstructured in any way, with a lingering, complex finish and the concentration to age two decades or more." 98 pts., Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com
£680 / Case£226.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Penfolds, Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz, South Australia 6x75cl
"Looking in on the 389 can be "'can be," she says, parenthetically) a good insight into what we can expect from the upcoming Grange. Now, they are very different wines, no question, however,... stylistically they have much in common and the illumination into the season that birthed the wines in each instance. Here, the 2020 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz has consummate polish and sleek tannins, imbued as they are with graphite, black tea, licorice and resin. The fruit is pure and black and chewy... gorgeous wine. And it lives for decades. This has always been a collector's dream and continues so through this vintage. Highly recommended." 96 pts., Erin Larkin, robertparker.com
£207 / Case£34.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Penfolds, Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz, South Australia 6x75cl
"The Barossa has the ability to convey a sense of place, dirt and air in the glass. The trick is to not get in the way—a cooper does not terroir make. Despite not being the dominant region in this... blend (for specificity: McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway and Clare Valley), the Barossa makes a potent contribution. Here, in the 2020 Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz, the concentrated, dry and warm vintage is on show and provides a splay of earthy, dense fruit, stretched over a framework of savory tannin. Despite Penfolds's reputation for big tannins/big oak, the fruit here overpowers both and streams out over the long finish. The heart of Barossa is here. Very good. Will get better." 94 pts., Erin Larkin, robertparker.com
£99 / Case£16.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Penfolds, Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia 6x75cl
"Fruit from McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Padthaway, Wrattonbully. 15 months in French (24% new) and American (12% new) oak hogsheads. TA 6.5 g/l, pH 3.6.
Paler than the Bin 150. Really... intense cassis nose. Neat and fresh with lots of sweetness on the palate. Then a tense, tighter, tarry finish. Complex but still very youthful." 17 pts., Jancis Robinson
£231 / Case£38.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Ben Glaetzer, Amon Ra, Barossa Valley 6x75cl
"I've looked at this wine many times over the years, almost exclusively as an older/cellared wine. The impact it has made is strong, and so it is through this lens that I now view this 2020 Amon Ra... Shiraz. This year's Amon-Ra is concentrated, dense and absolutely, utterly saturated with flavor. The fruit that spirals within the bounds of the firm tannins is fleshy and pure, and with the knowledge that the wine sails through the decade with noiseless grace, it is all the more impressive in its infancy now. A brilliant wine—all ductile and proud. Yes." 97 pts., Erin Larkin, robertparker.com
£260 / Case£43.33 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2019 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Shiraz Margaret River 12x75cl
Bright, elegant, and fragrant, the nose has heightened floral notes of violets, lavender, cardamom and pepper medley. The core of fruit is in the line of black cherries and blueberries. Clove,... cinnamon, burnt toffee and petrichor provide delicate complex. Gentle textures, woven layers and bright acidity meet seamlessly. Dense Satsuma plums, redcurrants and raspberries surround the mid palate. Elements of smoked cedar and cracked coffee bean combine with a mineral
thread, leading to long structural tannins.
£270 / Case£22.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2017 Henschke, Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley 6x75cl
"Hung deli meat, star anise and blackberry adorn the nose of the 2017 Mount Edelstone Vineyard Shiraz. Discerning this is akin to peering over the counter at an Italian deli, with meat, cheeses and... garlic hanging from the ceiling: it's enveloping and welcome. On the palate, the wine is bright and concentrated, with layers of salted blueberry, licorice and staunch (yet fine) tannins. It has flexibility and pliability, but it also has shape and form—all of it encased in a medium-bodied shell. It is savory and lean above all else, with bacon fat adorning all edges." 95+ pts., Erin Larkin, robertparker.com
£675 / Case£112.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2016 Henschke, Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley 6x75cl
"The 2016 Mount Edelstone Vineyard Shiraz is steeped in complexity, with aromas ranging from camphor, bay leaf and sage to smoke and grilled beef and from blueberries and blackberries to plums laced... with spice. Full-bodied, rich and intense, it's ripe and velvety textured, with a long, licorice-tinged finish and dusty tannins that bode well for the cellar. From vines planted in 1912, I suspect this will come close to the quality of the Hill of Grace at a fraction of the price. Tasted again the following day from the open bottle, this was even better, seamless, flowing and harmonious in the mouth." 96 pts., Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com
£570 / Case£95 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate