Drinks Digest sampled three of Just Wines’ most popular winter drops over the weekend and was thrilled to discover one was from the Barossa Valley’s Murray Street Vineyards.

We recently attended a Murray Street Vineyards dinner hosted by Head Winemaker Ben Perkins and were particularly impressed with his reds.

The Murray Street offering from Just Wines was its Gomersal 2020 Shiraz. According to Just Wines Marketing Manager Akhlesh Pal, the wine is performing well for the online retailer during the cooler months, with customers gravitating toward bold, full-bodied Barossa reds that deliver depth and value.

“Overall, we’re seeing shoppers become more discovery-driven and region-focused, with customers increasingly exploring wines that combine strong provenance, quality winemaking and value,” Pal said.

The Gomersal 2020 Shiraz features concentrated black fruit, velvety tannins and excellent structure. Its everything you would expect from a great Barossa red—rich, powerful and generous, while retaining balance —and is excellent value at around $27 a bottle.

The wine is drinking well now and will continue improve for another 8–12 years under good cellaring.

Another big red that’s proving popular with Just Wines customers is the Terra Felix Regional Heathcote Shiraz 2017, which offers amazing value at less than $15 a bottle (down from $35).

“The Terra Felix Regional Heathcote Shiraz 2017 stands out because consumers are increasingly appreciating aged shiraz with added complexity, balance and regional character,” Pal said.

Matured for 12 months in French oak barriques and featuring 2% viognier grapes that add a touch of fragrance, this deeply hued wine is filled with dark fruit flavours and has hints of white pepper. It’s ready to drink now and would pair perfectly with a slow-cooked lamb shoulder.

Rounding out the trio of top-sellers we tasted from Just Wines is Gapsted The Buffalo King Valley Pinot Gris 2024, which offers excellent value for money at around $10.99 a bottle (down from $28).

“Gapsted The Buffalo King Valley Pinot Gris 2024 has sold strongly due to its fresh, crisp style and broad appeal among customers looking for easy-drinking premium whites,” Pal said.

Drinks Digest found the wine’s fresh fruit flavours were well suited to Sunday afternoon drinks with a cheese platter.

Meeting the maker: Murray Street Vineyards

Murray Street Vineyards recently hosted a dinner at The Oaks Hotel in Neutral Bay, Sydney, which showcased how well thoughtfully selected Barossa wines can elevate a menu.

Founded in 2001 by Bill Jahnke and winemaker Andrew Seppelt, Murray Street has grown to become one of the Barossa Valley’s largest family-owned estates.

Ben Perkins joined Murray Street in 2019 and is focused on creating wines with complexity of structure and length on the palate. The warm hospitality of Perkins and his team really elevated the evening. Their enthusiasm, knowledge and discussion of each wine’s history, vineyard sources and winemaking philosophy made the tasting both educational and enjoyable.

The dinner began with Peking duck crêpes paired with the 2025 Artisan Rosé. The rosé was fresh and vibrant, displaying aromas of wild strawberries, watermelon and rose petals with crisp acidity that cut beautifully through the richness of the duck and hoisin.

For entrée, prawn ceviche with tostada, chilli and coriander was served alongside two very different whites. The 2024 Estate Marsanne Roussanne Viognier was aromatic and textured, offering notes of apricot, honeysuckle and citrus, while the 2021 Artisan Semillon showed classic Barossa restraint with lemon zest, green apple and subtle toast from bottle age. Both wines complemented the freshness of the seafood exceptionally well.

The highlight of the evening was a main course of eye fillet with mash, green beans and red wine jus, accompanied by three reds:

• 2022 Artisan Shiraz was classic Barossa—ripe blackberry, plum, dark chocolate and pepper with generous yet polished tannins
• 2022 Artisan Cabernet Shiraz added structure and complexity, combining blackcurrant and cassis with Shiraz’s richness and spice
• 2022 Aria, the flagship blend, was the standout wine of the night. Deep, layered and elegant, it revealed concentrated black fruits, mocha, cedar, fine oak integration and an impressively long finish. A wine with both immediate appeal and significant cellaring potential.

Dessert featured a warm sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce, perfectly matched with the 2021 Vintage Fortified Shiraz. Rich flavours of raisins, dates, chocolate and Christmas cake, balanced by fresh spirit and excellent length, made for a fitting conclusion.