Ulithorne Dona Shiraz 2022 from McLaren Vale is a fine, great‑value Shiraz that delivers classic Vale richness with lifted red fruits, spice and a savoury edge, matured just over a year in older French oak. It sits as a generous, food‑friendly style rather than a super‑heavy blockbuster.

Deep red/maroon in the glass, the nose shows red fruits, cranberries and mulberries alongside warm earth, cloves, chocolate and smoked‑meat notes, with gentle oak in the background. The palate is ripe and richly flavoured with very good length and intensity, satiny tannins, chocolate to the fore and a supportive line of acidity that keeps everything fresh and balanced.

Ulithorne Dona Shiraz 2022 is a cracking match for grilled lamb chops, BBQ meats, sausages, hearty pasta bakes or a mushroom and thyme pie, where its spice and plummy richness shine. Critics suggest a drinking window of around 10–12 years, so you can enjoy it now in Adelaide or watch it develop more savoury complexity over time.