2017 Atlas Shiraz, Clare Valley

Immediately appealing with its whorl of dark fruits infused with baking spices, a sprinkling of dried mint and cocoa. Fuller-bodied with a plushness across the palate buoyed by supple tannins and no new oak to clamp down all that joy. Terrific drink.

93 points Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au

This Shiraz was handled in small batches and hand-plunged in open fermenters, for gentle extraction of colour and flavour while maintaining a soft, supple mouthfeel. This approach helps the ferment breath and allows us to keep a very close eye on the development of the wine through fermentation to ensure that it’s not over-extracted. It’s a hallmark of a truly handcrafted boutique wine. After fermentation, the wine was barrel-matured in quality French oak, in a combination of hogsheads and puncheons. This Shiraz exhibits blackcurrants, cloves, pepper and liquorice on the nose. It’s a medium-bodied wine with firm yet balanced tannins that bring texture, length and persistence of flavour.