2020 Bethany LE Shiraz, Barossa Valley

Deep crimson with clear aromas of crunchy red plum, blackberry and boysenberry fruits with hints of fruitcake spice, milk chocolate, licorice, sage, softly spoken vanillin oak and sour cherry. It sports a nice mid-weight feel, some dried meat and a touch of cranberry lift on the palate with a fine tannin canvas and bright acid line as the wine fades with a sour cherry flourish.

93 points Dave Brookes winecompanion.com.au

Bethany LE Shiraz from the Barossa Valley is a rich, brooding red that blends power with poise. Sourced from some of the region’s oldest and most revered vineyards, this Limited Edition bottling (LE) is a showcase of Barossa intensity wrapped in fine tannins and deep complexity. It’s a wine that speaks clearly of its origin—ripe fruit, ironstone earth, and that unmistakable Barossa generosity—but with a touch of modern polish.

Bethany Wines is one of the oldest wineries in the Barossa, run by the Schrapel family whose ancestors planted vines in the region in the mid-1800s. Today, they continue to work some of those very same sites, crafting wines that honour tradition while embracing innovation. The LE Shiraz comes from low-yielding vines planted on the elevated eastern slopes of the Barossa Ranges, where the cooler microclimate and rocky soils bring intensity and structure to the fruit.

Winemaking is carefully hands-on. After fermentation in open fermenters with regular plunging, the wine is aged in a mix of new and seasoned French oak barrels to build texture and complexity while letting the fruit shine.

In the glass, it opens with aromas of blackberry compote, dark chocolate, cracked pepper, and warm spice. The palate is full bodied yet balanced, with layers of ripe plum, mocha, ironstone, and sweet spice carried on fine tannins and a long, mouth-coating finish.

Bethany LE Shiraz is built for the cellar but equally rewarding now with a decant. Think slow-cooked beef ribs, roast venison, or a fireside evening with something big and bold in your glass.