2023 Maxwell Minotaur Reserve Shiraz, McLaren Vale

There’s a child-friendly hedge maze at Maxwell, if the Cretan myth is less so. This comes off 1972-planted estate vines, with maturation in French oak for between 20 and 24 months, with 10–15% new oak. The top of the Maxwell shiraz pile in terms of price and more classic in modelling, befitting the hefty wax-sealed bottle and ‘reserve’ tag. As with all wines here, this feels like it has had a subtle makeover. Yet still, a storm of dark fruits, black plums and berries, bitter chocolate and anise, buffed new leather, vanilla, clove and allspice. It’s impactful, though not too imposing, a mineral thread and fine line of acidity yielding some verve. Older-style echoes, but not old-fashioned. Drink to 2037.

95+ points Marcus Ellis for Halliday Wine Companion, July 2026

Maxwell Minotaur Reserve Shiraz is one of McLaren Vale’s cult modern classics, a wine built on concentration, confidence and a clear sense of theatre without losing its grounding in place. The fruit comes from low yielding old vines on the eastern side of McLaren Vale, where ironstone and clay soils, warm days and cooling evening breezes shape Shiraz with depth, savoury grip and natural balance.

Maxwell Wines has long been part of the Vale’s fabric, founded by Mark Maxwell in the late 1970s and now guided by the next generation with the same focus on vineyard expression and bold but thoughtful winemaking. The Minotaur name reflects both strength and myth, and this reserve Shiraz is made only from the best parcels in standout years. Everything here is about selection, intensity and patience, with careful maturation designed to support the fruit rather than overwhelm it.

In the glass, Minotaur Reserve Shiraz is deep and commanding. Black plum, blackberry and blueberry lead the charge, followed by dark chocolate, liquorice and sweet spice. Beneath the richness lies a distinctly savoury edge, notes of dried herbs, earth and ironstone that keep the wine grounded and unmistakably McLaren Vale. The palate is full and powerful but not clumsy, with dense fruit, firm yet polished tannins and a long, confident finish.

This is a wine made for slow enjoyment and serious food. Chargrilled steak, slow roasted lamb, barbecue meats or richly flavoured vegetarian dishes all bring out its best. It is impressive in its youth with decanting, but patience is well rewarded, as time in the cellar allows the savoury complexity to deepen and the structure to soften.

Maxwell Minotaur Reserve Shiraz is unapologetically bold yet carefully crafted, a statement wine that shows how McLaren Vale Shiraz can combine power, polish and personality in one compelling package.