Shiraz is the basis of many of Australia's best red wines, ranging in style from elegant and medium bodied to full throttle and bigger than Ben Hur. In Australian wineries shiraz has also blended well over the generations with old partners grenache and/or mourvedre, as it does in its spiritual homelands of southern France. Local blends are enjoying a renaissance, with a new wave of finer, more stylish offerings joining hearty traditional types. Ripe aromas and flavours are usually hallmarks, but there's also great individuality due to regional characters, varietal mix, viticulture and winemaking.

Taltarni Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2019, $24-$26

Score: 90

Appetising youngster from Victoria's Pyrenees that hints at good Cotes-du-Rhone. Scents of raspberry, rose petals, and peppery spice track through a medium bodied, silky mouthful of balanced ripe and savoury flavours with fine tannins. (Screw cap; 14 per cent alcohol.)

Ageing? Drink over three years.

Stockists include: Available only at Taltarni online store taltarni.com.au (SHIPFREE code for free shipping)

Wallace by Ben Glaetzer Shiraz Grenache 2018, $20-$23

Score: 91

From the Ebenezer vineyards of the Barossa Valley, this deep, ripe, generous drop smells of licorice, dark plums, spice and earth. The medium-weight palate is juicy, plush, ripe and persistent with easy tannins underneath. (Screw cap; 14.5 per cent alcohol.)

Ageing? Drink over four years.

Stockists include: Summer Hill Wine Shop, Summer Hill (NSW), ummerhillwineshop.com.au; Winehouse, Southbank (Vic), winehouse.com.au

D'Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings 2017, $70-$76

Score: 93

A very traditional, richly complex grenache shiraz mourvedre blend from McLaren Vale. It smells of berries, date pudding, caramel, new leather and meaty notes. Full bodied, ripe and hearty, it has tonnes of flavour and a firm foundation of tannin. (Screw cap; 14.5 per cent alcohol.)

Ageing? Drink over 10 years.

Stockists include: Just released. Check with your local wine shop, or buy direct at darenberg.com.au ​