A very profoundly intense nose with immense fragrance and spice, darker brambly berry fruits and an almost chalky mineral edge. The palate has a very strong core of sturdy tannin, deep-set dark berry fruit flavors heads into dark cherry and plum territory. Tight, long and powerful.

A very dark, intense and brooding shiraz that also as a sense of real refinement and purity, it oozes black plum and blackberry fruits, black stones, plenty of spice, hints of tar and dark leather. The palate's rich, fresh and beautifully poised around a core of blackberry fruit flavor, sweet spice, liquorice and very supple, noble and long tannins. Age this one.

Subtle mocha spice sits across earthy darker berry fruit aromas here, there's gentle liquorice, dark chocolate too, some roasted meats and bracken. The palate has fine-grained, gently grippy tannins that make for an impressively deep and concentrated wine, graphite, cocoa, dark cherries and more, very balanced, long and fine.

A very settled nose with attractive mineral-like purity and neatly ripened raspberry and red cherry fruits, some nutty older woody notes too. The palate has sapid, zesty appeal, tannins are deep-set, long and majestic, really impressive structure on offer, great length, detail and balance. Needs a year or two to settle.

A brambly and bright red fruited grenache that has very attractive purity and effortless appeal, raspberry, dried leaves and herbs, some light spices also in the mix. The palate has assertive drying tannins, plenty of liquorice flavor amid bright raspberry amid red cherry fruits, gently drying finish.

An attractive meaty savory edge to this dense and concentrated shiraz, plenty of deep plum and fragrant spice on the nose, the palate delivers a supple twirling core of dark plum and black cherry fruit right through to a long and flavorsome, smoothly hewn finish. Deceptive power here. Drink now.

This partial skins-fermented white has a cloudy appearance and delivers a wealth of bright tropical and stone fruits on the nose, plenty of waxy lemon and fresh straw too, really fresh and attractive. The palate delivers a very settled and deeply balanced impression, more lemon and waxy melon here too, fine smooth phenolic sheen through the finish. Profound wine. Drink now.

McLaren Vale shiraz really eats up while bunches, there's very little exaggerated character here, just rich and convincing dark plum, mulberry and black cherry fruits, swirling spicy fragrance and a deeper tar and earth layer. The palate has a long and powerful thread of dark rich plum and chocolate flavor. The tannins ripple handsomely below all the flesh. Great wine.

A beautifully fragrant and floral shiraz that offers up masses of perfume and rich red to dark berry fruit aromas, alluring stuff here. The palate has a pulpy, bright and succulent core of cassis, blueberry and mulberry fruit, smooth playful tannins, terrific flesh. Drink now.

Pizza Friendly? Sure is, although the initials designate preservative free winemaking so no additives at all in this wine. Winemaker Peter Fraser (PF) states that he harvested on grape pH numbers and hence the lower than usual alcohol for McLaren vale shiraz at just 12.5%. It's a revelation of sorts, as the wine looks complete and really fresh, bursting with black fruits and gently earthy, liquorice and spice notes. The flavors are all here too, plenty of dark plum, more liquorice, black cherry and raspberry. Drink young.

Straight up confession; I am wary of wine that is heavily framed around process as it can often see actual wine quality shuffled back in the pecking order. Not so here. This is a tiny make of carignan (46%), roussanne (42%) and graciano (12%) all fermented in amphorae that contain some Yangarra clay. Pale red with a gently creamy foam, it smells of dried cranberries and goji berries, clear yeasty notes and some dried yellow rose and stone fruit perfume. It foams and fizzes smoothly on the palate, delivering a burst of raspberry and very gently sweet nectarine flavor, yeasty savory notes kick in and the finish has a neat phenolic stamp. Chill and drink fast and don't mind the red crystalline sediment, it's a natural by-product of the last phase of fermentation of grape sugars in the bottle, which is what gives the wine its light fizz.

The most powerful, complete and long of the four 2013 wines tasted, this has a heady mix of liquorice, cassis, toasty oak spices and crushed purple flowers, really fresh, smells concentrated and full of ripe dark purple and black fruits – cassis, plum and blackberry, some redder fruits here too. The palate has a powerful core of deep tannin with density and depth, really assertive and long, immense composure, a superb wine with clarity, refined power and length. Best from 2022.

A darker fruited shiraz that marries some real depth and brooding characters with some very fresh, fragrant and lively ones. Smells of crushed blackberry and plum fruits, some fine mineral-like aromas, stony and very spicy, it’s an attractive and inherently complex wine. Tannins are fine for the most part, they are delivered in a smooth and supple, really nicely focused and medium-weight in style, fleshy middle palate, nicely detailed, balanced, tastes of toasted biscuit spices and blood plum, really pure and focused. Fine to drink now, best from 2017.

This has a clear leafy and fragrant blue fruit thread, really set in the cassis and blueberry zone, some fresh leafy and floral elements too, oak is set back in this wine, chalky savory minerals prevail as the most salient savory character. The palate has crisp, even and elegant tannins, nice and juicy. Flavors are in the blueberry and plum spectrum, some redder tinges, lithe juicy and nicely pared back. Supple, fine, fleshy tannin spread. Drink now, best from 2018.

A rich red and blue fruited style with a sweet-smelling oak-infused nose, some distinct eucalypt notes at the edge too, fresh leafy elements, some fig fruit, bright and lively. The palate has a terrific core of velvety fruit, really supple, smooth and even, tannins just register above the flesh, great balance here, red plum and blueberry flavors with toasty oak spices to close.

Jammy aromas, figgy flavors and a very smooth mouthfeel define this medium-bodied and straightforward wine. Without much of the typical tannins, it’s easy on the palate.

Here is a slightly simple, fairly direct Pinot that is keyed on clean, mildly cherry-like fruit with a deft note of oak lending a slight boost in richness and a scant touch of tannin for firmness. It is not an expansive wine but it maintains a good sense of focus from beginning to end, and, if it promises to unfold a bit more with age, it is easy to taste now.

Nicely ripened and showing a mix of cherries and sweet plums on the nose that is reiterated in its young and insistently fruity flavors, this well-balanced middleweight impresses with its polish and clarity. It is not a wine of dramatic richness, but it hits all of the right varietal marks, and it has the quiet potency of a Pinot that will improve for several years.

Tasty plum and red cherry flavors and an easygoing texture make this medium-bodied wine a pleasure to drink. The aromas are quite fruity and fresh, accented with oaky, spicy notes, and the flavors seem generous. A touch of tannin provides welcome structure.

The 2012 Le Désir is striking. It is also the richest and most powerful of the Vérité 2012s. An exotic, alluring bouquet melds into layers of dark red fruit as this ample, voluptuous wine shows off its personality. The 2012 simply oozes with Cabernet Franc floral and spice notes. Although the 2012 is quite expressive today, it will be even better with more time. Over the last few years the Désir has clearly emerged as Vérité's top wine. Today, it is absolutely gorgeous, although it needs time to be at its best.

The 2012 La Muse is plump, juicy and forward; in other words a very typical expression of this vintage. Now at nearly five years of age, the 2012 is beginning to develop pretty aromatic notes that add complexity and nuance. Sweet tobacco, licorice, raspberry jam, mint and anise are all pushed forward. With time in the glass, the 2012 turns delicate and more refined, but it also seems to be going through a bit of a lull today.

Dark cherries, smoke, graphite, licorice, menthol and plums are some of the notes that open up in the 2012 La Joie. Here the flavors are bold, intense and incisive, with notable freshness and intensity. Give this large-scaled Cabernet Sauvignon-based red another few years in bottle. The finish alone is striking.

Tasted from tank just prior to bottling, the 2013 La Joie is dense, powerful and rich, with notable depth. Still remarkable embryonic the 2013 remains deep, fruit driven and backward. This is a wine for the long haul. Crème de cassis, blackberry jam, spice, menthol, game, licorice and smoke flow through to the powerful, incisive finish. This is a strong showing.

The single wine from this Chardonnay exclusive producer shows elegant structure and lively style with toasty oak and intruiging hints of spice; complex and graceful

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana is a dark, powerful wine. Graphite, exotic spice, crème de cassis, menthol, licorice and plums are some of the notes that meld together in a powerful, jammy Cabernet Sauvignon that balances concentration, striking aromatics and a very classic sense of Knights Valley minerality. Give this sumptuous, opulent 100% Cabernet Sauvignon at least a few years in bottle and drink it over the next decade or so.