2017 Halliday Wine Companion. 5 Star Winery.

The Halliday Wine Companion is arguably Australia's most widely consulted wine guide. Over 9000 wines were tasted for the 2017 edition. It's very pleasing to sit with the top 10% of wineries who received a red-five-star rating.

Bekkers 2014 McLaren Vale Syrah.

Dense, deep crimson-purple; grace with power, varietal expression at once fine yet intense. The balance and mouthfeel are exceptional, and it will cruise serenely through decades to come. Class stamped on every bottle. Screwcap. 15% alc. Rating 96 pts. To 2039. $110.

Bekkers 2014 McLaren Vale Grenache.

The silk, the robes of tannin, the flesh of ripe fruit. Aristocratic grenache wearing seductive garb. Raspberry and smooth-skinned plum, smoked cedar wood and a gentle infusion of herbs. Firm tannin doesn't intrude on the impression of delicacy. Rating 96 pts. To 2026. $80.

Bekkers 2014 McLaren Vale Syrah-Grenache.

The quality is certain but so too is the creep of warming alcohol. Silken raspberry, plum, blackberry and saltbush flavours team deliciously well, the slip of integrated tannin judged just so. It feels fine and soft throughout; the warmth you need to be in the mood for. Fruit quality here though is superb. Rating 95 pts. To 2028. $80.

This brings together two high-performance, highly experienced and highly credentialed business and life partners. Husband Toby Bekkers graduated with an honours degree in applied science in agriculture from the University of Adelaide, and over the ensuing years has had broad-ranging responsibilities as general manager of Paxton Wines in McLaren Vale, and as a leading exponent of organic and biodynamic viticulture.

Wife Emmanuelle was born in Bandol in the south of France, and gained two university degrees, in biochemistry and oenology, before working for the Hardy’s in the south of France, which led her to Australia and a wide-ranging career, including Chalk Hill. Exports to the UK, Canada, France and China.