It's another power pack of mini might for February. Recent years have seen the popularity of halve bottles grow exponentially and that sometimes makes this a little challenging to put together but we relish a good challenge and we think this year's pack is as good as ever.

This is always a popular release for so many reasons. They are the perfect mid-week wedge for those looking for something a little specy but maybe not willing to dive into their cellar best. Or, they make the perfect roady, you can sneak them into the footy (we do not advise or suggest doing this of course), and they are perfect for that next sunny day, pop down to the park with friends and need a cheeky drink or they are perfect for when you just need a little after dinner tipple but don't want to go overboard.

It also means that for half the price you can drink twice as good! Ok. Well, that's not quite right but it certainly sounds good.

Ultimately though this pack is just about great drinking so whatever your reason to cut your wine in half this pack had a little bit of everything for everyone.

A cool season, a cool wine. Highly perfumed with florals, black pepper, red fruits dipped in Middle Eastern spices and a whiff of bresaola. Barely mid-weighted, the fine sandpaper tannins add texture, with bright acidity adding a lift to the finish. It’s hard to resist now. (94) JANE FAULKNER, Halliday Wine Companion

Every vintage, for a while there, seemed to be the “earliest on record”. 2023 was the third cool Canberra season in a row, and was the latest harvest in over a decade. O’Riada Shiraz is grown on both Clonakilla’s estate vineyard, and on other Murrumbateman/Canberra District sites.

I cannot fault this wine. It’s so well spiced, without being excessively so. It’s rushed with cherry-plum fruit, it’s both refreshing and satiny, it folds, carefully, cedarwood and deli-meat into the fruit, and the tannin is a masterclass of the fine, filigreed kind. After all that, or over-arching it, is the fact that it’s a delightful drink, pretty, floral, solid where it needs to be, bright and balanced. Personally I’d have no hesitation in buying this wine. (94) CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front

A perfumed, vibrant, utterly delicious wine that draws you in with its wild raspberry aromas. On the nose, the clarity of fruit is spectacular, accented by dainty pink peppercorn spice followed by an intense, expansive palate of bright red fruit perfectly framed by tannin. This shiraz, sourced from one of the region's most historic vineyards, is a modern interpretation of a classic Hunter style, with graceful flow, medium body and mesmerising intensity. (97) TONI PATERSON, Halliday Wine Companion

Bright and deep purple-red colour; fresh earthy/terracotta and brown spice aromas; the intense and focused flavour sits easily in a medium bodied frame. Tannins are taut, fne and tense, and the finish lingers well. An elegant style of Hunter shiraz that drinks well now and will certainly age well. Pristine winemaking. A more powerful style of Rosehill than usual. HUON HOOKE, The Real Review

Dried roses, boysenberry and classic Rosehill Shiraz character, but with a deeper more rugged, peppery and earthy cast. Medium-bodied, tannin slightly tough, red and blue fruit, pepper and spice, baked raspberry, and a slightly raw finish, but length is solid. It's a bit closed in as a young wine, but should turn out pretty well. It's a nice wine all up, from a more difficult vintage. GARY WALSH, The Wine Front 

Black pepper, garden herb and roasted nut characters weave through black cherry and (just) into ripe plum. It's both refreshing and solid at once, its peppery/herbal/meaty charms as clear as they are well played. This is a peppery Australian shiraz, done easily, and served fresh. (94) CAMPBELL MATTINSON

Deep ruby-red colour and a fragrant nose of violets, musk and mulberry aromatics. Medium in weight with bright purple and red fruits entwined by subtle pepper spice and musk notes. Hints of rose petal lift out with a freshening acidity and fine tannins walk the finish to a good length and fine tension. Very approachable cool-climate style shiraz. STUART KNOX, The Real Review

It’s a hard knock life for the underdog, but don’t start bowing your tiny violins just yet. As the vintages roll on, the artisan winemaker gloves up for the proverbial David vs. Goliath, often waking bruised and battered championing scars that would make any prizefighter cringe. But with the willpower to reach the twelfth round of a barnburner comes the drive not just to survive, but go the distance as we won’t be the ones kissing the canvas. Inspired by our Barossan forefathers who never gave in, and always kept off the ropes, always staying true even if slightly black and blue. 

The Tomfoolery ‘Black & Blue’ Shiraz is sourced from a select premium vineyard in the northern sub-region of Ebenezer in the Barossa Valley. Grown by 5th generational grape grower Adrian Hoffmann this site offers soils that are commonly sandy loam over heavy red clay which provide a controlled yet accessible source of water allowing the vines to produce stunning fruit.

Big and bold, with a punch of plum pudding, liquorice and caraway seeds, all smothered in bramble jam. Full-bodied, rich and satisfying with ripe plummy fruit and bacon smoke, tightened on the finish by fresh acidity and meaty chunks of firm tannin. 

…it's a medium-bodied, polished, elegant, satisfying Crozes revealing terrific purity in its red and blue-tinged fruits as well as sappy herb, floral, and peppery nuances. This is classic, lively, old school, yet elegant Syrah all the way. It's going to evolve for 7-8 years or more. JEB DUNNUCK, jebdunnuck.com

…Vinified from fully destemmed and certified organic grapes, it unwinds with bright raspberry, black cherry, hints of blackcurrant and earthy undertones. Medium- to full-bodied, concentrated and round, the 2022 is enveloped by polished tannins, closing with good drive on the sapid finish. NICOLAS GREINACHER, vincous.com

Dense, concentrated wine with plum, savoury/tobacco, black pepper, baked earth and mocha flavours. Delicious now but should become even more complex and integrated with bottle age. Serious syrah. (97) BOB CAMPBELL, The Real Review

The 2020 Trelinnoe Syrah was harvested post-lockdown during COVID-19, an interesting time that we lived through globally. On the nose, this is saturated with raspberry coulis and red licorice, pink peppercorns, graphite and black tea, rose petals and blood. It smells sumptuous and looks vibrant and almost light. I'm thinking supple. Yes. Uber fine, with a chalky, silky flow. This is a delicious wine. It's exactly what you'd hope for in medium-weight Syrah. It's perfectly ripe without a hint of anything over that. This is gorgeous wine. Seamless. Almost three years in barrel, with none new. The future is so bright here. I'm looking forward to seeing it again sometime. 35% whole bunch. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. (96+) ERIN LARKIN

What a great year 2020 was for HB Syrah. I don’t know the price, and I suspect it’s long sold out, but for the record. Red fruits, paprika, exotic, liquorice, peppery too. Melting tannin, stony, plenty of juicy acidity, Dusty, aniseedy and very long. Such a distinct wine. Superb. GARY WALSH, www.winefront.com