2006 Shiraz and Blends Wines from Wineries List: O

Colour:Deep, dark maroon. Nose:Aroma Excellent spicy lift, strong mocha and dark chocolate overtones. Palate: Super intense palate, but still showing the typical HJ restraint and finesse. Again a wine to age, with fruit depth through the middle palate.

Appearance:Garnet red with bronzing hues. Nose: Red plums, cranberry, beetroot, stalks and white pepper. Refined and earthy, rather than obvious over-ripe fruit. Palate:The palate mimics the aromatic presentation. Earthy and savoury with red plum, beetroot, curry leaf, notes of brown spices and forest floor. Later, mint, dried leaf, pastry, more white pepper and boot polish. This is medium bodied with fine savoury tannins. Oakridge Awards & Accolades BRONZE - Cool Climate Wine Show - Red Hill, 2009 BRONZE - Winewise - the Consumer’s Wine Guide, 2009 BRONZE - Royal Melbourne Wine Show, 2007 BRONZE - Victorian Wines Show, 2007 BRONZE - Yarra Valley Wine Show, 2007

Lots here - some classy leathery, dark berry, sweet oak aromas and an intense varietal palate with length, structure and texture.

Plum fruit aromas with a hint of vanilla bean. Well-balanced, youthful palate with vibrant flavours showing tarry complexity. 3-5

Regional raspberry fruit, gingery, liquorice, ripe fruit, soft tannins and nice clear fruit. Finishes with minerally tannins.

In typical winery fashion, with abundant blackberry and plum fruit; splashes of spice, and integrated oak.

Still an extraordinarily fresh and youthful wine, with beautiful fruit, chewy oak and a tannic grip.

This is, as the label says, a selection of the finest barrels in the shed at Oakvale. It has a bright summer berry nose and shows plenty of freshness and settled, integrated character. The palate has a layer of creamy oak spice across supple, mid-weight mixed berry fruits; tannins are fine and sturdy.

Has great power, especially for the price; bright red fruits are framed by leather and a little tobacco; there is a strong mineral element, and the finish is quite fresh and lively

Typical succulent Langhorne fruit, with an abundance of flavour though less structure; as ready now as it ever will be.

Medium red-purple; fresh red and black fruit flavours, with spicy notes to provide counterbalance. Is there a whisper of brett?

Dense purple; layers of blackberry and black currant fruit with tannins in appropriate support; not much finesse, but so what? Over-delivers on its price.

A spicy wine with pronounced acidity, and a long, tannic, slightly chewy finish; plenty of vibrant red fruits on offer.

Designed to make an easy-drinking style, and succeeds; the only lack is length.

A blend of Langhorne Creek/Mudgee/Barossa Valley, with an added (not co-fermented?) touch of viognier; fresh, but light-bodied, and presumably designed for early consumption.

It does appear a bit oaky but has smooth, rich texture and juicy redcurrant flavours.

A rich chunky and fruit Shiraz with a pleasant lift of Viognier, loaded with dark chocolate and earthy ripe plum. A little spice and vanillin oak adds to the mix. Needs some pretty hefty food.

Strong peppery nuances, this has a cool accent, smoky and spicy, really striking dark fruit characters here. The palate is rich and supple, loaded with spice and lively Rhone-ish dark fruits. Fine tannins that balance through the finish, even, supple and long, exotic saffron aftertaste.

Good colour; attractive medium-bodied palate, with good varietal expression from blackberry, dark chocolate and ripe tannins, some vanilla oak in balance.