2022 Oliver’s Taranga Shiraz, McLaren Vale

Off 10 estate blocks with 18–60-year-old vines; 20% new French for 18 months. This is one of those wines you could always buy with confidence. A reliably high-quality wine of thoughtful construction. This hums the tune of the cool year, though still ripely fruited, silky and flavour-deep, but with a certain buoyancy. Boysenberry, red plum, liqueur black cherries, vanilla bean, cacao nib, blackberry and anise pastille, the delivery open and delightfully airy, the finale escorted by neatly extracted food-forward tannins.

93 points Special Value Marcus Ellis winecompanion.com.au

Oliver’s Taranga Shiraz from McLaren Vale is a bold and expressive red that captures the heart and soul of South Australia's coastal red wine country. The Oliver family has been farming in McLaren Vale since the 1840s, and sixth-generation vigneron Corrina Wright has carried that legacy into the modern era with style and conviction. Corrina, one of the region’s most respected winemakers, blends deep tradition with contemporary flair, making wines that are both powerful and polished.

The estate's Shiraz is sourced from their family-owned vineyard, where old vines and sustainable practices come together under the region’s Mediterranean climate. With the cooling influence of the nearby Gulf St Vincent and soils rich in ironstone and clay, this Shiraz develops intense concentration without sacrificing elegance.

In the glass, it offers seductive aromas of blackberry compote, dark plum, sweet spice, and a hint of mocha. The palate is rich and velvety, full of ripe black fruits, licorice, and a warm, earthy undercurrent. Fine-grained tannins and well-integrated oak support a long, spicy finish.

This is a food-loving Shiraz that pairs beautifully with slow-cooked beef brisket, Moroccan lamb tagine, or smoky eggplant with tahini. While approachable young, it has the structure and fruit depth to age gracefully over 8 to 12 years.