The fruit for 'The Stocks' comes from a 100-year-old single vineyard - making for a seriously concentrated, opulent Shiraz. The 2018 vintage is showing attractive coffee character, with seductive notes of liquorice and a plushness that you can only find in this part of the world. Plenty of density and character on show, with a beautiful savoury black olive finish and effortlessly integrated oak and tannin. Ageing beautifully.

Whilst Woodstock might be one of Australia's more iconic wineries, thanks in no small part to its flagship wine named 'The Stocks', this winery actually takes its name from the English historical town of the same name, in Oxfordshire. Historically (and likely not just limited to Woodstock town), locals were put into the stocks if they had gotten themselves a little bit too drunk - a sobering punishment to say the least. Established in the early 1970s, the family-owned estate has maintained its commitment to quality viticulture, doing its best to maintain the essence of South Australia's McLaren Vale region, which is home to some of the world's great wines. More recently, the team have decided to get a little bit more experimental, working with Grenache and Dolcetto, crafting a lower extraction, rather modern range of wines. This has coincided with the third generation of the family taking the company reins, bringing with them a fresh, slightly less classic approach to winemaking. But make no mistake about it, 'The Stocks' Shiraz is one of the best you'll try anywhere.