Thousand Candles Gathering Field Shiraz Malbec 2022 from the Yarra Valley is a deeply coloured, vibrant red that takes the elegance of cool‑climate shiraz and bolsters it with malbec’s inky depth and plush fruit. This Thousand Candles Gathering Field Shiraz Malbec 2022 continues the 50/50 blend template, crafted with natural ferments and older French oak for purity and finesse.

Expect fragrant red liquorice and red plum, infused with dried clove, earth, smoked meats and peppered herbs, alongside darker notes of blackberries, smoked meats and black pepper that reviewers highlight as hallmarks of this blend. The palate is medium bodied yet concentrated, with ripe, fine‑grained tannins, chalky mineral freshness and a long, slate‑like, slightly graphite finish that feels both stylish and distinctly savoury.

On the table it shines with beef and venison, chargrilled lamb, pepper‑steak or smoky barbecue, where its dark fruits, spice and smoked‑meat complexity integrate beautifully with charry, savoury flavours. With strong critical praise and suggested drinking windows out to around 2030, it’s equally at home as a characterful drink‑now red or as a mid‑term cellaring option for added complexity.