Wine Buyers’ Picks - Barossa Edition

Maverick's Ahrens' vineyard is hallowed ground - this little plot of land holds some of the oldest producing shiraz vines on the planet, and that's no exaggeration. In the hands of a master winemaker like Ron Brown, this fruit is crafted into something utterly jaw-dropping! Trust us on this one - and the 96pt score AND the 4.4 Vivino rating - this'll blow your hair back. Stick your nose in the glass and you'll see what we're on about - dark berries, cake spice, and a little smokiness for good measure, all supported by a good lick of cedary oak. It’s deep, layered and alluring as all-get-out - the kind of wine that makes you pause mid-conversation and go, “oh, sh*t - that’s good". On the palate, it’s all concentration and confidence. Plush dark fruit with a fine structure, spice and a savoury edge that gives it real class. It’s powerful, but it’s classy too - no shouting, just quite command. In short: This wine doesn’t ask to be noticed - it demands it. A bottle that’ll make any dinner, date or quiet night in feel like a grand occasion.

You know Powell & Son. Their Barossa Shiraz 'The Blend', is the most popular we've ever sold - and if you've had it, you already understand why Dave Powell has one of the most respected names in Australian wine. This is a different conversation entirely. The Marananga Ironstone is where Powell & Son shift into another gear completely. We're going right to the top-shelf with this one! That classic Powell philosophy - traditional techniques, old concrete fermenters, basket pressing, minimal intervention - but applied to one of the most prized vineyard sites in the entire Barossa. The kind of fruit that makes even experienced winemakers stop and take notice. The result is Barossa Shiraz of extraordinary depth and presence. Dark plum, black cherry and blackberry at the core, with a richness and concentration that fills every corner of the palate and a svelte, mouth-coating tannin structure that gives it both immediate impact and serious cellaring potential. This is the style that put Australian wine on the world stage - opulent, intense and completely unique.

This is Barossa shiraz with brains as well as brawn - nothing overdone, just flavour that feels both powerful and controlled. Smoothness, complexity and depth all wrapped up in a velvety package. There’s opulence, fruit weight, fine tannins and a hell of a long finish on this one. Halliday’s already dropped 96 points on it - we’ll just say it straight: this is utterly delicious.