Cradle of Hills Darkside Shiraz Mourvèdre 2016 by Cradle of Hills in McLaren Vale is a dark, broody Sellicks Hill red that leans into savoury complexity, black fruits and a touch of wildness rather than simple sweetness. This 2016 Darkside Shiraz Mourvèdre is full‑bodied, expressive and very much in that small‑batch, hands‑on McLaren Vale artisan mould.

Expect deep purple‑red colour with layers of blackberry and blood plum from the Shiraz, and moody, earthy, briary notes from the Mourvèdre, stitched together by cacao‑bitter dark chocolate and a lick of regional salted licorice. Winemaking sees destemmed fruit with some whole berries left intact for a touch of carbonic lift, building a wine that’s rich and chewy yet still vibrant, with plenty of tannin to carry it for years. You’re looking at a powerful, structured McLaren Vale blend that still feels detailed and savoury rather than over‑ripe.

This style absolutely loves slow‑cooked lamb shanks, beef cheeks, smoky BBQ ribs or a hearty osso buco, where the dark fruit, spice and earthy Mourvèdre character can really play. It will also sit beautifully with rich casseroles, chargrilled vegetables, hard cheeses and robust mushroom dishes – a bold yet nuanced McLaren Vale Shiraz Mourvèdre that shines in cooler weather and with generously flavoured food.