Collector Reserve Shiraz 2021 from Collector Wines in the Canberra District is a cool‑climate, finely structured Shiraz rather than a big Barossa bruiser – think elegance, spice and detail over sheer weight. It sits in their flagship tier alongside Tiger Tiger Chardonnay, built for cellaring and serious drinking.

In the glass you can expect deep but not inky colour and a lifted nose of dark berries, blackberry and black cherry, with cracked black pepper, spice, violets and a gentle, savoury, almost graphite edge from the cooler Southern Tablelands climate. The palate is medium‑bodied, long and refined – dark fruits, pepper and spice layered with fine tannins, bright acidity and subtle French oak, giving a poised, almost northern‑Rhône feel with Australian clarity.

On the table, Collector Reserve Shiraz 2021 is perfectly pitched for lamb, venison, game birds and char‑grilled steak, where its structure and spice complement, rather than dominate, the dish. It’s equally happy alongside slow‑cooked beef, mushroom dishes or hard cheeses, and will reward patient cellaring over a decade or more.