Rusden Ripper Creek Shiraz Cabernet 2022 from Vine Vale in the Barossa is a plush, old‑school Aussie claret style, packed with ripe blackberry, plum and a swirl of liquorice and wood spice. It smells rich and comforting, with that classic Shiraz generosity lifted by Cabernet’s darker fruit and herbal edge.

On the palate, the 2022 Ripper Creek Shiraz Cabernet is soft, rich and luscious, all dark fruits, cocoa and blackberry compote, framed by moderate tannins and a gentle cedar finish. The higher Cabernet component in recent vintages adds a little leafy complexity without sacrificing the easy, slip‑in charm that’s always defined this blend.

Food‑wise, Rusden Ripper Creek Shiraz Cabernet 2022 is made for barbecued steaks, snags, lamb chops, slow‑braised beef, hearty stews and mid‑week roast dinners. It’s exactly the kind of Barossa red you open generously with friends, now or over the next decade.