Unwrapped: Handpicked Regional Series Shiraz 2016

This wine represents Handpicked's philosophy of sourcing the very best fruit across multiple Barossa sub-regions rather than being tied to a single vineyard. This approach allows the winemaker to cherry-pick premium grapes from diverse microclimates within the Barossa, creating a more complex and balanced expression than traditional single-site wines. The result is a shiraz that showcases the full spectrum of what the Barossa can offer in one bottle.

The 2016 vintage in the Barossa was exceptional for shiraz, producing wines with concentrated fruit flavours and excellent structure. At seven years of age, this wine has reached an ideal drinking window where the initial power has mellowed into elegant complexity. The vintage's natural acidity helps preserve the cranberry and raspberry notes while allowing the darker plum characteristics and chocolate undertones to emerge beautifully.

The wine's rich fruit profile and earthy complexity make it perfect for robust dishes like grilled lamb with rosemary, slow-cooked beef brisket, or aged hard cheeses. The spicy berry notes complement barbecued meats particularly well, while the subtle chocolate hints pair beautifully with dishes featuring mushrooms or dark sauces. Its full-bodied nature can stand up to strongly flavoured cuisines like Middle Eastern or North African dishes.

The 'dangerous value' rating reflects the exceptional quality-to-price ratio that makes this wine almost irresistible to collectors and enthusiasts. Handpicked's multi-regional sourcing strategy allows them to access premium fruit without the premium vineyard site costs, passing savings to consumers. Combined with the limited availability and Five Red Star Halliday winery pedigree, this represents the kind of wine that serious collectors tend to buy in multiples.

Serve this shiraz at 16-18°C to allow the complex flavours to fully express themselves - too warm and the alcohol becomes prominent, too cool and the rich fruit character is muted. Decant for 30-60 minutes before serving to help integrate the tannins and release the earthy complexity. If storing additional bottles, keep them in a cool, dark place as this wine has the structure to continue developing gracefully for another 3-5 years.