"Much better than typical Shiraz at this price (£7.50). Good every day drinking, with or without food."

I would recommend this wine

"Bought 6 of these to test over Christmas. First impressions were bold, rich, heavy, I would say a fuller bodied shiraz than I'm used to. Good value for the price point, some nice cherry and chocolatey notes and I always enjoy trying the society's own labels, just a little too much for me at this point in it's drinking cycle and can't imagine its going to settle down much. 3 stars."

"A very nice example of Australian Shiraz and great value. It does benefit from not being quite as intense or oaky as some examples can be. Will be adding some more to my next order. "

I would recommend this wine

"Bleasdale Frank Potts is my favourite wine of all time and sadly has not been available to purchase in the UK for some time. Whilst the Sociey's Australian Shiraz may fall slightly short of it is a Bleasdale wine of top quality. It is very rich and delicious."

I would recommend this wine

"Superb full bodied right from first opening. "

I would recommend this wine

"Soft, inky, unsubtle, mellow, harsh... mixed opinions full flavour, fruity, good accompaniment to strong tastes"

"Needs a few minutes to warm and develop, after which it becomes slightly richer and you get hints of dark chocolate. I found that cranberries and elements of pepper came to the fore on my first few sips. Went very well with Shepherd's Pie."

I would recommend this wine

"We found that this needed a few minutes airing to develop. A fair Shiraz at a reasonable price (£7.50), without the raw edge that (it seems to me) sometimes mar Australian Shiraz at this price point."

I would recommend this wine

"Rich and peppery. Less tannin than in many shiraz's"

I would recommend this wine

"Very gluggable and good value.... fruity and delivers straight from the bottle."

"A really good Australian Shiraz at a bargain price"

I would recommend this wine

"Felt the need to redress the balance from the unfavorable reviews of this wine. I often say that my least favourite wine is Aussie shiraz, however it was very enjoyable, fruity and spicy, not too heavy, went really well with curry and was good on its own. Maybe I'll be converted after all..."

I would recommend this wine

"Lulled into deciding that my dislike of Aussie Shiraz was unfounded by the excellent Vasse Felix red that the WS was offering earlier this year, I ordered some bottles of this. My error. The wine is not to my taste at all, unfortunately. In a single word, blousy."

"First purchase from WS for long time. Influenced by previous review to give it a try. Quite disappointed, Thin acidic and a nasty after taste. Nothing like a smooth full bodied shiraz. Guess you get what you pay for!"

"I bought this out of curiosity, as the price point was good and I like an Aussie Shiraz. The wine has nice cherry and almost mulberry like flavours, with a hit of white pepper and a spicy finish. It's a lighter shiraz than I would normally have, but I enjoyed it and would order it again. "

I would recommend this wine

Daily Express 21st Nov 2020

" A full-bodied beauty from The Wine Society, bursting with cherries, blueberries and a smidgeon of spice in the finish for added zing. Not too heavy, not too light, the perfect wine to warm your cockles on a cold winter evening. As the world's oldest wine club The Society scores time and time again and this is another winner. - Matt Nixson"

ollysmith.com 10th Nov 2020

"Perfect time of year for a smokey red like this, bold black fruit from a vintage bathed in warmth, pour yourself a glass of personal insulation. - Olly Smith"

2017 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS

Mr Alastair Allan (03-Jul-2020)

"Superb at the price, good value and great all-rounder"

Mr Paul Emery (11-Jun-2020)

"I liked this - fantastic black fruits, plum and boysenberry and some savoury aromas on the nose. Lovely juicy blackberries and peppery spice to taste with medium tannins. Give it a chance to breathe to open up. Nice deep ruby colour."

Mr Mark Watson (19-May-2020)

"Nice easy drinking. I would recommend this wine"

Mr Rory Lynch (14-May-2020)

"An excellent smooth red for everyday drinking and real value for money."

Mr Peter Lord (09-Mar-2020)

"Quite enjoyable for the price, very easy drinking. First couple sips come off as quite acidic but it mellows as you drink more. "

Mr Caleb Severn (09-Dec-2019)

"Easy every day drinking. Red and black fruits with a hint of spice. Smooth, good value for money. "

Mr Timothy Mason (16-Nov-2019)

2017 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS

The Herald (28th Mar 2020)

"This is simply divine, with juicy ripe blackberries a hint of spice and a really fresh finish. The Wine Society have done themselves proud with this one. - Gerard Richardson"

2016 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS

"A £7 Aussie Shiraz is not likely to set the world alight, but this is not at all bad. Dark fruits but with a pleasant acidity and tapenade type savouriness rather than overripe sweetness. Minimal tannins but a fresh mouthfeel and surprisingly long for a wine at this price. Well done the WS."

Dr Philip Dodd (02-Apr-2019)

"A pretty decent Shiraz, quite full-bodied and smooth, and not at all unpleasant. Slightly heavy and slightly cloying. However for the price very reasonable."

Prof Roger Barton (08-Mar-2019)

"The first bottle of this tasted in May 2018 was excellent value - classic Oz Shiraz; spice, pepper & blackberry, mellow and a balanced 14% . I re-ordered. Second bottle tasted January 2019 is a different beast; liquorice, olive character with little fruit and resembling a harsh Southern French. Not the same wine of 6 months ago – perhaps now well past its best? "

Mrs Elisabeth Pearce (03-Jan-2019)

"Good value for money. Relatively full bodied and quite strong which you can expect from a Shiraz. Easy to drink though and will definitely try again. "

Mr Edward Peters (30-Nov-2018)

"Always the question - does one rate absolutely or relatively? I mean should price be taken into account? I am sure Robert Parker doesn’t. As for this wine, I’d say that if one were to poll a blind tasting about its price, it’s likely the majority would say “£10 maybe?”. So, it’s good value. But, what’s motivated me to put pen to virtual paper is the wish to share an opinion that it’s a very good wine for any price. It’s interesting and very pleasing, fruit forward as one might expect, and I’d agree it’d be good with or without food."

Mr Julian Edgington (15-Nov-2018)

Mr Rolande Auten (02-Jun-2018)

"Rich, round, dense, smooth, fruity. Uncomplicated easy drinking. Good value everyday wine."

Mr John Lay (10-Apr-2018)

Mr James Bramble (28-Mar-2018)

Mr Dominic Murphy (10-Feb-2018)

2015 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS

"Very acceptable, and interesting flavours, much better than anything we have found at a similar price in the super markets. Nice as a back up."

Mr William Tutton (10-Feb-2018)

"Ok, but not great. Lacks body. All fruit with not enough bass note."

Mr Peter Nelson (10-Jun-2017)

"I suppose I should not expect too much of a wine at this price level. But, considering that it is the Society's choice for an Australian Shiraz, I was disappointed. I found it to be too sharp and with too little fruit or body for my taste."

Mr David Milner (07-Apr-2017)

"Good value. We liked it. A big wine - rich and full. Fruity."

Ms Vicki Worsley (20-Jan-2017)

""Good value and very drinkable Shiraz. Quite earthy with elderberry and plum undertones. Quite dry with lots of tannin ... "Very nice""

Mr Ivan Manley (14-Dec-2016)

2014 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS

Mr Neil Gowers (29-Oct-2016)

"I agree with the previous reviewers. For the price point its a great example of Aussie shiraz and comes up with the goods. Will be re-ordering with the festive party season in mind."

Mr Aron Hills (30-Sep-2016)

"An amazing Australian Shiraz. Being Australian, I normally don't order Australian wines, but I got homesick, so I ordered 4 different bottles of Shiraz from the WS. This one was my favourite, beating bottles priced over £10. Why? Because it is a great representation of an Australian Shiraz. If you don't like big Aussie wines - stay away! But if you've never tried them, or you do like them, you have to try this. The wine maker is very popular in Australia and makes wines to fit all budgets. This holds up similarly to their Bremerview Shiraz, which is over £9! I find this wine to have lovely fruit and a touch of oak (although I'd be surprised if it had seen much oak for the price). There's the typical pepper and spice that you would expect with a Shiraz, and it is nice and smooth to the finish. A must try. You'll also find this a great party wine, because, for the price, it will please anyone who sees it is Australian."

Dr Lonnie Swift (03-Sep-2016)

"generally well received by all family members, easy drinking and no dislikes"

Mr Martin Reeves (11-Aug-2016)

Mr Martin Reeves (11-Aug-2016)

"Another excellent Society wine. Bargain at the price. Description was spot on."

Mr Gordon Allan (02-Jul-2016)

"Absolutely delicious - tastes like a much more expensive wine. Packed full of fruit, it's an excellent BIG shiraz. We will definitely be ordering many more bottles of this!"

Miss Emma Mallinder (28-Feb-2016)

"This wine was fruity- ripe blackcurrants, soft smooth tannins and none too heavy despite the 14% alcohol, it slipped down all too easily and had a gentle spicy finish. To my mind this is just what basic Aussie Shiraz should be - easy drinking, no rough edges just warm and sunny fruitiness in a glass . Having read the reviews of previous years I was surprised at all the negativity. When you pay under £6.00 for a bottle of wine most of the cost is excise duty, the bottle, the label and the transport all the way from South Australia. I say well done Wine Society - it does exactly what it says on the tin - if you want a complex fine wine which will age gracefully in your cellar for years expect to pay far more than £6.00 !! "

Dr Richard N Gale (31-Jan-2016)

2014 VINTAGE - PRESS REVIEWS

JancisRobinson.com (2nd Aug 2016)

"Mid cherry red. Lively, almost medicinal bramble fruit and a touch of pepper. Juicy and perfect for parties but with enough tannic structure to match with food – Good value. 15/20 Julia Harding"

thewinegang.com (21st Mar 2016)

"You get a lot of easygoing pleasure for your money with this wine – a mouthful of sun-warmed blackberries and blackcurrants, the trademark fresh mint of Langhorne Creek and a little spicy tobacco and toasty oak. Made for The Society by Bleasdale. Bring on the bangers, meatballs and pizza. 86/100"

2012 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS

"I made the mistake of not decanting this wine and not letting it stand to open up, I would recommend others avoid doing the same. My bottle made one of the biggest transformations that I have experienced, from being initially harsh and leathery to being smooth and much more rounded an hour later. If you can wait at least an hour then I would recommend this rewarding medium bodied wine but if you can't go elsewhere."

Mr Paul Everett (08-Feb-2014)

2010 VINTAGE - MEMBER REVIEWS

"I found this wine to be disappointing. No character or charm and can be likened to a bland, supermarket own brand offering. Taste is a very personal and subjective thing, but for me, the Grant Burge benchmark shiraz for an example of an Aussie red, or something like the excellent society's Corbieres would be a better choice at this price point."

Mr Kieran Hynes (20-Sep-2013)

"Excellent value peppery and full-flavoured."

Mr Pete Gleeson (15-Mar-2013)

"Can I add to my review that I always decant red wines? So if there was a problem with too much tannin, half an hour after it was decanted, there was no problem."

Mr Robin C D A Hirsch (09-Jul-2012)

"I'm surprised at some of the other reviews - I conclude that this wine must differ quite a lot from year to year. This year's vintage bursts with flavour. Refined it's not, but its tannins were very well behaved and the amount of fruit is fabulous if you like a really full wine with quite a lot of sweetness in the fruit. I got it in this year's Australian Reds mixed case but I would definitely buy it on its own at this price."

Mr Robin C D A Hirsch (09-Jul-2012)

"Over-priced at £6.75 per bottle. Not bad, very drinkable, but no better than many Wine Society wines at £5-5.75 per bottle."

Mr Richard I H Garrett (05-Jul-2011)

"We found it harsh, tannic and acid on the finish. At first we thought we had a bad bottle but there was a slight improvement on leaving open for some time, like others have said. Not much of a bouquet, and really not that quaffable. We won't be buying another bottle."

Dr Aref Dyer (22-May-2011)

"I lately opened a bottle of the 2008 vintage picked up as a bin end, and fair value at that price. Very drinkable, certainly not harsh or foul, but a rather routine competent Australian Shiraz, whereas earlier vintages were definitely a little special and frankly fun. I hope some critical reviews of the current vintage don't indicate a further decline, as I would be sad to drop this from my list of repeats."

Dr Christopher Currie (14-May-2011)

"I received two bottles in a mixed case. It certainly wasn't my favourite red as I found it hard and tannic on opening. However two days later the remainder of the bottle had softened and had, in my view, improved a great deal. So open early or decant I think."

Mr Alan Wells (25-Mar-2011)

"I tried the 2005 and 2006 and both of them were gloriously gorgeous rich wines. I couldn't wait to order more. This one, however, after trying two bottles, is one of the foulest, most metallic, stale tea-soaked monstrosities I've ever tasted. Maybe my crate was a bad batch, but I've never felt so much that I've wasted my money. I can't bear to drink the rest."

Dr Graham McCann (26-Jan-2011)

"I too was the fortunate recipient of a member-to-member gift, as a thank you for a day's fishing. A cracking, robust wine which I much enjoyed and I intend to order some for the whole party next year."

Major J R Urquhart (01-Dec-2010)

"My brother kindly gave me a bottle of this nectar. A very nice bottle irrespective of price full of ripe rich fruit, heavy but not jammy. An amazing bottle at the price"

Mr Philip A Bennett (07-Jul-2010)

"I ordered a case and am on my second bottle so far I can only say this is not unlike a well-known black current cordial with alcohol added. A disappointment, a much better buy is the Grant Burge Benchmark Shiraz, 2008, Barossa at the same price."

Mr Max Penfold (01-Jun-2010)

"A very happy experience. The candour of the label is matched by the wine which will enhance a broad range of foods; Oz wine without the hype. Bravo Wine Society!"

Mr Richard W Sharrock (01-Sep-2009)

"I am really no wine buff so cant produce a lot of technical terms. But my partner and I really enjoy this wine. It's full of flavour, doesn't give me a bad night's sleep as some do and I think is good value for money. Well done The Wine Society!"

Dr Jolyon Oxley (11-May-2009)

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