Monterra was founded in 2012 on the basis of an undeniable admiration for almighty Mother Nature, and the desire to bring exceptional wines to Australian tables and beyond. The art of élevage is the skill of blending in the cellar, raising the potential of exceptional grapes to deliver something profound in the bottle. Meticulously blended parcels of wine, and the mystery of specially selected oak barrels deliver intense flavours, complexity and palate length. Élevage wines celebrate the honed skills and years of craftmanship.

The Reserve is crafted by the team selecting grapes from the most preferred sites and then opting for the best barrels, once the wine has spent time maturing in French oak. The result is most definitely worth it. Deep maroon in colour, it is a big and bold style, chockful of flavour. Chocolate, leather, tobacco leaves, cassis, blueberries and plums with a firm structure and a very persistent finish. Firm tannins too with impressive length, coffee bean notes emerge towards the finish of the palate. A full throttle, big, rich red with a sweet core of chocolate fruit. This will drink well for 10 to 15 years. Date: Dec 2023; Price: $50.00; Drink: 2023-2038; Rating: 94 Points; Ken Gargett; Wine Pilot

If you like big and bold Shiraz which also has a softer, refined side, then this is a great choice. A range of fruits and spices mix with emerging tertiary notes to give complex aromas and tastes: cassis, raspberry, mulberry, plum, nutmeg, black pepper, coconut, dark chocolate, and cola. The palate seems somewhat darker than the nose, and the ripe tannins and rich flavours give the wine an assertive presence in the mouth. Very nice. Date: Nov 2023; Price: $50.00; Rating: 94 Points; Brendan Black; Wine Pilot

Powerful and opulent, yet with grace and sophistication, the wine shows dark and purple fruit richness, toasty oak, dark chocolate and potpourri aromas, followed by a concentrated palate delivering plush texture and beautifully melded tannins. Mouthfilling and multi-layered with a prolonged sumptuous finish. Date: Oct 2022; Drink: Now to 2040; Price: $50.00; Rating: 95 Points; Sam Kim; Wine Orbit

Deep, dark and inky in the glass. Complex and lifted aromas of dried herbs, spice, mulberry, plum, licorice and cola. Full bodied, mouth-filling and with plenty of flavour. Heady flavours of plum, dark cherry, mocha, pudding spice and earth. Textured tannins and bright acidity are keeping all the plushness in check. Date: Nov 2023; Alcohol: 14.5%; Price: $50.00; Drink: 2023-2033; Rating: 93 Points; Aaron Brasher; The Real Review