Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz 2024 from Bec Hardy in McLaren Vale is a rich, modern Shiraz that nails that plush Vale generosity while staying beautifully balanced – and it comes with serious credentials, including 96 points from Winepilot and 95 points plus 5 Stars from Vino Masters.

The nose is dense and brooding: black cherry and dark plum, blackberry, dark chocolate, mocha and cocoa, with layers of bay leaf, dried herbs, tobacco, root‑vegetable earthiness and lifted oak spice. On the palate it’s full‑bodied yet finely balanced – rich dark fruit, spice, black olives and cloves wrapped in a dense, creamy core, satiny/velvety tannins and impressive length, all polished by around 20 months in French oak.

Food‑wise, Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz 2024 is made for hearty fare: char‑grilled steaks, lamb shanks, slow‑cooked beef, barbecue ribs or a rich sausage ragù, where its power and plush texture soak up fat and smoke. It will also sing with hard cheeses or a good burger, and has the structure to age comfortably for a decade or more, making it astonishing value in serious McLaren Vale Shiraz.