Corryton Burge, Barossa Shiraz

A delicious and delightful Shiraz, this is the benchmark for the winery as it is this grape and this level that the Burge family built their reputation. Affordable quality that celebrates the rich generosity of the Barossa valley.

Ripe dark fruits with notes of chocolate, licorice, nutmeg and subtle toasty oak lead to a palate that is full but balanced with vibrant freshness from the super-high quality fruit and the careful use of barrels.

Using only 30% new oak and a combination of French and American timber, parcels of grapes are aged for between 10 and 18 months, leading to a wine that is really well balanced: both rich and full, with liveliness and approachability; true to its origin without being elitist.

Excellent stuff!

The Burge family have lived in the Corryton Park Homestead since their parents bought it in the 1990s, at which stage they registered the name as a company - just in case they had to use it - which is very handy: the Grant Burge winery and name and use of the name was sold to Accolade wines in 2015 and of course means that they're never, ever allowed to use the name in association with wine. However, because they registered this one earlier, they're out of the loop.

Plus, they sold the name: they held onto the winery itself in Illaparra, the Cellar-door (which is a term for a winery's own shop) in Tanunda, and possibly most importantly, the 300 hectares of vineyard across south Australia. These feed numerous other family projects, but it's the Corryton project that has the potential to best emulate the previous successes of the family history.

The lovely label depicts a Gryffin (or gryphon), of which two stone carvings sit on the gates of the estate. Legend has it that these fantastical beasts guarded gems and precious metals: the analogy for the winery, homestead and vineyard isn't lost on the family!