Mount Avoca Moates Lane Shiraz 2021 from Victoria’s Pyrenees is a dark garnet‑red Shiraz with a purple edge, offering that classic cool‑climate richness with a polished, modern feel that’s made for hearty food and easy drinking. This Mount Avoca ‘Moates Lane’ Shiraz 2021 really overdelivers for a midweek red.

Aromas of sweet dark plum and cherry are laced with subtle herbal notes, nutmeg and forest berries, giving a lifted, slightly spicy nose. The palate is full‑bodied and smooth, carrying fresh cherry and ripe fig over cocoa and sweet vanilla oak with hints of black pepper, all wrapped in firm yet soft powdery tannins that stretch into a long, velvety finish.

Think roasted meats with potatoes, pumpkin and greens, slow‑cooked beef, lamb shanks or a rich sausage casserole, plus hard cheeses for good measure. The excellent 2021 vintage in the Pyrenees – one of the best of the decade – means this wine is drinking beautifully now, with enough structure for a few more years in the cellar.