The fruit for the 2021 Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz is from Marananga in the Barossa Valley (east of Seppeltsfield, south of Greenock). Currently, the oak—a combination of French and American (each component featuring 29% new)—is sitting atop the fruit here. The essence of Marananga is disguised by this element aromatically. In the mouth, the fruit starts to show: mulberry, raspberry, ferrous, iodine, roast meat, beetroot, peppercorns and licorice. I would suggest that this wine needs time in the cellar; the oak is effusive here. The fruit is better. Have patience. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.

The Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz has always been a dense, concentrated and muscly wine. Then imagine the overlay of a warm and dry vintage (for some context—26 days in a row over 35 degrees Celsius), the second in a string of warm, dry vintages. Yields were drastically down, up to 70% in some places, and the power of the reds in particular are a force to be reckoned with. So here, to 2020 Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz: savory, spicy tannins form a casing around the fruit, the oak supporting from the back. There are notes of dark blackberry, blood plum, Nag Champa (clove tobacco), pink peppercorns and saturated fruit. There's a side of deli meat in there, too. If you can put aside the density and weight of the wine (impressive), the fruit is pure and beautiful. 2020 may have been responsible for brooding and concentrated wines, but I have found much to love in this year. This included. Sensational.

Last year, I lamented that this wine wasn't available in the U.S. I guess the execs at Treasury aren't paying attention to lil old me (the Australian SRP remains at AU$100). Bruised ego aside, the 2019 Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz is a ripe, rich, near-carbon copy of the 2018. This is true Barossa Valley Shiraz, with blueberry and blackberry fruit framed by notes of new oak (mostly American), and then gradually folding in savory nuances of espresso and earth. It's full-bodied and concentrated, yet also silky and nearly approachable now, with a lingering finish.