2023 Maxwell Silver Hammer Shiraz, McLaren Vale

Richly fruited and instantly appealing, the wine shows blackberry, mixed spice, potpourri, and assorted nut aromas, followed by a generously expressed palate offering succulent fruit intensity and velvety texture. Upfront and flavoursome with a satisfying finish.

93 points Sam Kim for Wine Orbit

A core line for Maxwell, named after the Beatles song (which often used to make it into children’s school songbooks, even though the lyrics are somewhat gruesome). All estate fruit, this has some typical generosity, though a fair degree of levity, too. Oak, largely older, is well integrated, adding a little nuttiness and spice to dark berries and plum. It’s a bit up from medium weight, and it drinks so readily, with softly accommodating tannin and nicely resolved, refreshing acidity. This is right in the groove.

92 points Marcus Ellis for Halliday Wine Companion, March 2026

The grapes for the Silver Hammer are sourced from numerous parcels in Maxwell’s vineyards, offering a consistency of style and quality year on year and all the hallmarks that make McLaren Vale Shiraz a favourite red for many. Medium-bodied, the dense and silky wine offers generous red and black fruit, light spice and fine, soft tannins.

An easy drinking Shiraz that is ready to enjoy on release and also cellars well for a number of years.

About this producer

Maxwell Wines is a McLaren Vale family business established in 1979 by Mark Maxwell and managed today by his son Jeremy Maxwell. The wines form a part of a larger offer that also includes their famous meads and a fine-dining restaurant.

Fruit is sourced from 40 hectares of estate vineyards as well as other growers in the region. The varieties grown include regional heroes like Grenache Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, but a with an increasingly wide selection of varieties originating in the southern reaches of Europe.