Anaperenna is the Roman goddess of New Year. She is also a seamless fusion of fruit from dry grown, low yielding, very old vines, some over a century of age, planted to ancient sites within the elite Ebeneezer appellation in the Barossa's north. A mostly Shiraz wine, the very low cropped Cabernet component contributes intense fruit flavours with a low extraction rate of smaller berries, large seeds and greater skin to flesh ratio. The savouryness of Cabernet combines with the generosity of Shiraz to give Anaperenna great texture and power, structure and finesse.

From a canon of distinguished, ancient vine blocks of Shiraz in the Barossa hamlet of Ebenezer. The eye of Horus is represented as a figure of six parts, corresponding to the six senses, touch and taste, hearing and thought, sight and smell. Ben Glaetzer takes aim at balancing the extraction of all the elements into this flagship Barossa Shiraz, rather than endeavouring to maximize them. The fruit holds such powerful expression that focus must be brought to bear on preserving the characteristics of outstanding old vines Shiraz.

Over many years, Rob Gibson (ex Penfolds and Peter Lehmann as chief viticulturalist) has crafted meagre amounts of the most stately wines from his tiny operation in the Barossa Hills. Vintage 2002 claimed silver at the VISY Great Aussie Shiraz Challenge and vintage 2003 came within a hair's breadth of the Jimmy Watson. Gibson knows the Barossa and all its best growers, varietal selection is expertly matched to site and minimalist winemaking is complemented by assembling the choicest components into the most exquisite balance.

Yalumba have been making the Galway range of wines since the 1940s, named in honour of Colonel Sir Henry L. Galway, governor of South Australia from 1914 to 1920. He was a keen wine man with a good palate and was a regular visitor to the Yalumba wineworks at Angaston. Success with the early editions of Galway were the foundation upon which Yalumba built it's peerless reputation for fine Barossa reds. Galway is still made to the enduring traditional style with rich colour, distinctive spicy fruit and perfectly integrated oak, balanced and elegant.

Only those parcels of Shiraz meeting the highest standards of old vine Barossa, can be considered for inclusion into Fernando. Assembled from the pick of eighty year old plantings, Fernando represents the flagship from the noble house of Taylor Ferguson, established 1898. Immediately intense with impenetrable black hues, Fernando's rich bouquet of blood plums, violet and tradewind spice, are followed by a multi layered palate which continues to unravel veils of complexity, seamlessly integrated, between fawning tannins, winegum fruit and fragrant flattering oak.

With each harvest, the Taylor Ferguson team seek to isolate parcels of the finest fruit from which to craft their flagship Shiraz. The selection process is diligent and very strict. Parcels of fruit which are candidates for inclusion must display the requisite qualities of vibrant flavour profile, profound varietal expression and praiseworthy tannins. Fernando The First is vinified from a collation grown to choice vineyards, eighty years of age, a remarkable expression of Barossa Shiraz, its rich chocolatey palate and sound structure are tightly wound around a carriage of polished oak.

One of Australia's longest continuously operating purveyors of fine wine, Taylor Ferguson can trace their origins back to establishment circa 1898. Today, the Taylor Ferguson team can draw harvests from a substantial catalogue of the choicest vineyards to create the most outstanding vintages. Parcels picked off vines thirty to fifty years of age, planted to prestigious sites in Barossa Valley, have been assembled into a sensational Cabernet Sauvignon, endowed with layers of regional chocolate fruit characters, perfumed currant flavours and ripe, supporting tannins.

A mostly old vines Grenache wine with a tenth of Carignan, planted by the Heldbig family on their Greenock farm in 1915. Parcels are hand picked and crushed into traditional open top, concrete fermenters for a long cool vinification and eight months of age in a selection of well seasoned French oak puncheons. A stunningly perfumed wine, marked by pretty cherry torte characters, strawberries and cream, berry punnet freshness and crisp raspberry notes. Its stealthy tannins and juicy bucolic savouryness resolve on a judiciously warming, fragrantly fruit filled finish.

The hidden gem in the Elderton portfolio, a perennial favourite on the national wine show circuit. It was postulated that by assembling the finest components of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz which Elderton could produce, a truly wonderful wine would be created. This is Ode to Lorraine, a rigorous selection is conducted each year to isolate the best barrels, much of which are earmarked for the estate flagships. An exceptionally well rounded claret style, born out of extensive sessions around the tasting bench.

Neil and Lorraine Ashmead were Barossa road warriors, travelling between tastings and competitions in a car loaded with Elderton, on a never ending journey to promote the virtues of good Barossa wine. A compilation of elite estate parcels up to eighty years of age, picked off superior sites at Nuriootpa and Greenock, treated to old fashioned open ferments and fifteen months of age on gross lees in the luxury of new 300 litres French oak puncheons. Shiraz of exuberace, evolving in the glass as it breathes, articulating meaty savouryness juicy black jube fruits.

From an invaluable parcel of vine at Greenock, planted by the Helbig family in 1915. Hand picked grapes are gently crushed into two large 1500 litres barrels, sealed for six weeks of maceration and fermentation on skins, followed by a press to a luxurious selection of finely coopered French oak for two years maturation. A stunning wine in true, old vine Barossa blockbuster styling, densely figured with black and blueberries, cinnamon and clove spice, its voluptuous, opulent palate unravelling layers of complexity and splendour as it lingers on a finish of immeasurable length.

Elderton practice a standard of viticulture that's second to none, they treat their fruit to a level of skill and quality of new oak that's emulated by the estate's peers, their most memorable vintages are renowned throughout the world of wine. Elderton collate parcels of Shiraz off a dozen blocks, the oldest dating back to 1949, to be crafted through a combination of new and old world techniques, into an approachable entry level edition, which shares a provenance with some of the great icon Shiraz wines of the world.

From blocks of old, estate grown Shiraz vines planted to the banks of North Para River at Nuriootpa. Elderton was transformed from a vineyard supplying quality fruit to other wineries into an internationally renowned estate, having won much acclaim for Shiraz. There are twelve blocks of Shiraz at Elderton, some as old as a hundred years, planted to deep alluvial soils over limestone. Combined with a Mediterranean climate and minimal supplemented irrigation, this creates what savant Robert Parker describes as the perfect Shiraz vineyard.

Elderton made use of a secret ingredient across their stately range of award winning wines for many years, they originally called on small amounts of estate grown Merlot as an essential component. Eventually the quality of Merlot itself became so exceptional that the decision was made to bottle it as a pure wine. Elderton has now been recognised as one of the finest and most consistent examples of the varietal in Australia, manifesting just how gracious a Barossa Merlot can be, a wine of controlled power, polish and identity, sublime harmony and superb length.

Elderton are a baronial Barossa estate of historical significance. The first vines were planted in 1904 by Samuel Elderton Tolley, with a view to supplying local brands. Elderton's wineworks were originally built and operated as a cannery before being converted by the Penfolds company into a functioning winemaking and storage facility. A third each of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre, sourced off the old Helbig Vineyard, from some of the younger Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre estate vines, up to forty years of age.

Elderton Cabernet was winner of the prestigious Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy in 1993, the following years it claimed back to back Gold and Trophy at the Barossa Wine Show. The 1994 vintage gave Elderton its first international Gold medal in London, an unbroken tradition of remarkable vintages have embossed the Elderton Estate name as a national champion, being chosen by Qantas for service in first class. The superior quality of fruit grown to Elderton's fifty year old estate Cabernet vines, yield a wine of intensity, opulence and grace.

Elderton make some of the new world's most eminent accords of Cabernet and Shiraz, this time they have taken aim with a collation of the most splendid harvests to assemble a forward drinking, easy to appreciate red wine for everyday enjoyment. E Series is designed as a contemporary and uncomplicated approach to the great Aussie Shiraz Cabernet style. The E stands for five key elements that are central to the winemaking and viticultural practices at Elderton. Enjoyment and elegance, ergonomic and economic, with the accent on environment.

Langtons Excellent Classification. From ancient vines planted in the 1890s, Elderton Command has established an enviable reputation since inaugural vintage, one of Australia's most eminent icon wines. Accolades have come from the world over, the 1992 was rated by Robert Parker as one of the world's top eighty wines. Vintage 1996 claimed Trophy for best Shiraz in the world at the prestigious London International Wine and Spirit Competition.

Excellent Langtons Classification. Elderton Command has established an enviable reputation, truly one of Australia's most esteemed flagship wines. Accolades are sent from every corner of the globe with every annual release. Vintage 1992 was selected by Robert Parker as one of the world's top wines. The 1995 Command was awarded 95 points by Wine Spectator and placed in their TOP 1OO, vintage 2000 was awarded 97 points and also made the TOP 1OO. Vintage 1996 claimed Trophy for Best Shiraz in the World at the prestigious London International.

Excellent Langtons Classification. Winner of Australia's most coveted award, the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for vintage 1992, Elderton are one of the nation's great icon winemakers. Elderton's matriarch and principal, Lorraine Ashmead, is the driving force behind one of our nation's most eminent luxury brands and one of the world's great wines. Command Shiraz has established an enviable reputation since the first vintage in 1984, establishing a peerless reputation internationally as a stately new world Shiraz.

Elderton know what it takes to make Australia's best Cabernet Sauvignon, having claimed multiple trophies including the 1993 Jimmy Watson. The Ashmead block has consistently produced small parcels of outstanding quality fruit. Traditionally the wines from this site are blended into the Estate range, however in 1998 Lorraine Ashmead realized the excellence of fruit and released it as a pure single vineyard wine.

The first and final word in world class Barossa Cabernet, aged in a luxurious selection of completely new French oak hogsheads. The Ashmead block is so low yielding that it was almost gutted and re established to more productive plantings. The vines suffer from the notorious Dead Arm disease but yields an extraordinary quality of fruit. Fortunately for the world of wine, Ashmead was retained as an Australian Grand Cru Classe. Elderton are not unfamiliar with ultra Cabernet, having claimed significant trophies including the 1993 Jimmy Watson.

Outstanding Langtons Classification. From vines averaging sixty years of age, a monopole that has gone from strength to strength, ever since the qabal of distinguished Barossa growers resolved to establish their own label. Previous vintages have won numerous awards and medals on the wine show circuits in Australia and overseas, reiterating E&E's legendary status with the large number of international devotees. At every stage of vinification there is uncompromising attention to detail.

In 1934 Oscar Semmler purchased a vineyard and grazing property across the road from where he and his brothers grew up, at the southern end of Lyndoch in the Barossa, alongside the St. Jakobi Lutheran church and school. From a mere thirty two rows of vine, planted on five acres in 1975 by Oscar's son Ken Semmler, the site is blessed by a harvest of the most outstanding quality fruit every year. St Jakobi Shiraz makes a wine that's rich in spice, dark cherry and chocolate characters, offering great tannin structure for longevity in the bottle.

At the tender age of six weeks, Samantha Dutschke was introduced to winemaking when her feet were dipped into a bucket of fermenting Cabernet, the idea being to make footprints on paper for her grandparents in America. Whenever a truly spectacular vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon comes around, a small amount of Dutschke Sami is set aside for a very special limited release.

Oscar Semmler added to the family farm in the 1930s, planting new rootstock to make port wine. His son returned from a tour of duty with the RAAF in the 1970s and re-established the site to yield fruit for good red table wines, it remains the heart of Dutschke vineyards. The most structured and mouthfilling parcels of Shiraz grown to the superlative St Jakobi Block are set aside each year for Oscar Semmler. Oscar is the reserve label for Dutschke, a flagship Barossa Shiraz representing the best of vintage from within the elite appellation of Lyndoch.

Once upon a time, around the end of the nineteenth century, the Semmlers grazed cattle on what are now Dutschke vineyards. They always grew grapes and made their own wine but it wasn't until the 1930s that Oscar Semmler started taking viticulture just a little more seriously. True to the tastes of the time, most of the yield was made into rich ports and fortified styles. Dutschke wines have retained their luscious fruit character, crafted in the timeless old world way, Barossa village Cabernet Shiraz of impeccable balance, elegance and grace.

The philosophy at Dutscke has always been to hand pick small parcels of fruit from the elite St Jakobi Block and make a range of superior, single vineyard wines. Until recently. Since shifting their operations to Gods Hill Road, there have been a few changes. GHR Shiraz is a small batch assemblage of parcels from precious vineyards within a tiny but exquisite Shiraz growing appellation, displaying elegance and controlled power, with a profound sense of place.

Dutschke are the birthplace of Barossa Merlot, originally sown in 1980 by Ken Semmler, cuttings from Block 80 were removed and replanted by the Vine Improvement Society into nascent sites on some of the nation's most prestigious vineyards. The inaugural harvest of 1990 was mixed with Cabernet and Shiraz under the moniker Willowbend. Since then the branding has evolved into Dutschke, the pick of the estate's Merlot is reserved each year for a pure, St Jakobi Vineyard wine.

Nigel Dolan of Saltram and Pepperjack fame established his own estate with a clear vision to produce distinctive, flagship Barossa wines. His forebears Arthur and Thomas Dolan planted the family's original 88 acres of vine in 1895. Nigel's father Bryan worked at Hardy, Saltram and Stonyfell, where he appointed a young Peter Lehmann as his replacement. Bryan is best known for establishing the Pepperjack label and winning the inaugural Jimmy Watson Trophy. Nigel is a Baron of the Barossa, has won the Jimmy Watson twice and Stodart Trophy three times.

Dandelion are proven plantings of worldly vines which have stood the test of time. The Lionheart of Dandelion is a very old Barossa site, named for seminal Barossa grower Carl Lindner. Within this ancient parcel, gnarled vines, many over a hundred years of age, are not only surviving but thriving on their own roots, planted to some of the oldest soils on the planet. The hand picked grapes of this noble garden are crafted into a powerful yet approachable wine, which articulates beautifully, the dignity, generosity and grace of old vines Barossa Shiraz.

A mostly Barossa wine fashioned at an ancient wineworks that was once Hardy's Siegersdorf. The remarkably approachable Cockatoo Ridge has seamless wood and fruit balance that seems to call for another glassful! Rich and soft, an equitable arrangement between two of the most compatible noble red varietals.

Light Pass was one of the first Barossa precincts to be planted to vine. A single Grenache vineyard remains from earliest settlement, still yielding the most precious fruit, it is likely the oldest productive planting of Grenache in the world. Marco Cirillo personally manages each and every vine on this invaluable block, his specialty is Grenache and he maintains a close watch over his priceless old plantings. Much of what he picks off the vine is destined for the mighty Torbreck, he retains a small amount from each vintage to release under his own label.