Penny’s Hill ‘Cracking Black’ Shiraz 2023 from McLaren Vale is a bold yet polished Shiraz, drawn off the grey–black cracking clay soils that give the wine its name and delivering serious flavour with a savoury, regional edge.

In the glass, this 2023 Cracking Black Shiraz is packed with ripe plum, blackberry and blackcurrant, layered with dark chocolate, olive tapenade, tar and a lick of liquorice, pepper and warm spice. The palate is rich and full–bodied with plush black fruit, mid–palate depth and fine–grained, chunky tannins that carry great concentration while juicy acidity keeps it from feeling heavy.

On the table, Penny’s Hill Cracking Black Shiraz 2023 is made for rare steak, grilled lamb, hearty barbecues, rich stews or hard cheeses, where its dark–fruit power, savoury olive and tar notes and firm structure really shine. It is vegan–friendly, sustainably grown and already picking up strong reviews and medals, so you can happily crack it now with a decant or cellar it through to the mid‑2030s.