Shaw + Smith Balhannah Shiraz 2021

'A scintillating nose of mace, clove, blue-fruit persuasions, lilac, pepper-dried salumi, fennel seed and kelp, akin to nori of the sort found at Tokyo's arsenal of exceptional sushi counters. More of a syrah from an external perspective. An irrefutably brilliant one. I wish I had more to cellar, given the wine's noble stature. A ringer for refined Cornas, if not an oxymoron.' 97 points. Ned Goodwin MW, James Suckling.

'The pitch here is as perfect as you'll find. It's glossy and smooth but there's sinew and grain too; the fruit is sweet but the herbs are ardent. Twiggy spice, mescal, black pepper and peanut shells weave through blueberry and ripe plum. Tannin is grapey, fine-grained, smoky and expansive. It?s exemplary.' 95 points, Campbell Mattinson, Halliday Wine Companion.