Nick Haselgrove Wines Blackbilly Shiraz from McLaren Vale is a dark magenta, full‑flavoured shiraz sourced from older vineyards on heavier soils around McLaren Flat, delivering generous fruit, structure and real regional bang for buck. It’s the 18th vintage of this much‑loved label and very much in that classic, modern Vale pocket.

The nose offers satsuma plum and dark cherry with mocha and cedar oak, hints of briar and forest floor adding a savoury edge. The palate is fresh and crisp with proud, full and round tannins, solid blue and black fruits, coffee‑grounds and cedar oak notes lingering through a long, flavoursome finish at around 14.5% alcohol, making it both hearty and nicely balanced.

Blackbilly Shiraz is tailor‑made for steak, lamb roasts, hearty stews, burgers and rich winter dishes, and it will also sit comfortably beside aged cheddar or other hard cheeses. With its combination of value pricing, quality fruit and a track record of strong scores for the Blackbilly range, it’s a smart option to buy in quantity for mid‑term drinking over the next 5–8 years.