Lloyd Brothers Western Block Reserve Shiraz McLaren Vale 2021 

From the first pour, this delight doesn’t hold back – plump blueberries and blackberries erupt from the glass. Delving further reveals rose petals, a luscious licorice and deep black pepper spice. The texture is silky and supple with lots of fine rounded tannins and seamless acidity. 2021 was a cooler year, allowing the grapes to develop complexity and flavour whilst still ripening to a rich 14.5% abv. Everything is in balance here. It’s unmistakably McLaren Vale but not a fruit bomb, displaying herbal, savoury, dried rosemary and bay leaves. A young wine and built to age, time in the decanter allowed a glimpse of how it will evolve with further layers of dark chocolate, dried blackberries and sultry earth tones.