Small Gully The Formula Cabernet Shiraz

Small Gully The Formula Cabernet Shiraz is a bold South Australian red blend of Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Barossa Valley Shiraz in a 750ml bottle at 15.9% ABV. This dual-region cuvée earned 91 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, underscoring the depth and balance achieved by combining two of Australia's most celebrated wine regions in a single bottle.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.9%  |  Origin: Barossa Valley & Clare Valley, South Australia  |  Blend: ~54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Shiraz  |  Producer: Small Gully Wines

Production & Heritage

Small Gully Wines was established in 1999 as a partnership between winemaker Stephen Black and vineyard owners Robert Bader and Darren Zimmermann, with the winery based in Marananga in the heart of the Barossa Valley. The Shiraz component is harvested from older, low-yielding vines in the warm Barossa floor, delivering bold, extracted dark berry concentration. Stephen Black then blends in roughly equal measure Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon—grown at higher altitudes where cooler nights slow ripening, building natural acidity and structural backbone. The result is a wine where intensity and elegance coexist: the Barossa fruit supplies richness and weight, while the Clare Valley component keeps the blend focused and lifted rather than one-dimensionally jammy.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with opaque, purple-black depth and an enticing bouquet of violets and ripe cherry. Layers of vanilla, menthol, spice box, blackcurrant, and blackberry follow, with a metallic, blood-like complexity adding intrigue beneath the fruit.

Taste: The entry is smooth and mouth-filling, with plump blackberry and brambly currant fruit meeting peppery spice and a touch of bitter chocolate at mid-palate. The wine teeters between medium and full body, offering restraint and even elegance amidst considerable power. A fine line of acidity keeps the dense, ripe fruit honest, while herbaceous Cabernet notes interweave with the darker Shiraz character for genuine complexity.

Finish: The finish is long and focused, carried by silky texture and the soft grip of savory tannins. Lingering notes of bitter cherry and dried spice slowly fade, leaving a clean, structured close.

How to Serve The Formula

Serve at 16–18°C (60–65°F). A generous Bordeaux-shaped glass gives the aromatics room to open, and decanting for 30–60 minutes helps the tannins soften and the layered fruit fully express itself. This wine also works well in wine-based cocktails: a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola over ice) uses the bold fruit concentration to hold its own against the mixer; a New York Sour benefits from the wine's deep color and cherry backbone as the red wine float; and a classic Sangria leverages the spice and dark berry profile alongside citrus and brandy.

Best For

• Weekend barbecues featuring chargrilled red meats and sausages
• Gifting an Australian wine enthusiast exploring Barossa blends
• Building a cellar of South Australian reds at an accessible entry point
• Dinner parties where a crowd-pleasing, full-bodied red is needed

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Formula taste like? The Formula delivers plump blackberry, brambly currant, and peppery spice with a touch of bitter chocolate and violet, balanced by fine acidity and savory, silky tannins that give the wine structure without heaviness.

How does The Formula compare to Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz? Both are full-bodied, fruit-forward South Australian reds, but The Formula distinguishes itself with the addition of Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which introduces herbaceous notes and higher-acid structure that The Boxer's pure Shiraz profile does not typically offer. The Boxer tends toward riper, more overtly sweet fruit, whereas The Formula balances power with poise.

Is The Formula good for drinking on its own? Yes—its combination of ripe fruit density, fine tannin, and natural acidity makes it a satisfying sipper without food, particularly after 30 minutes of decanting to let the aromatics bloom.

Where is The Formula made? The Formula is produced by Small Gully Wines at their winery in Marananga, Barossa Valley, South Australia. The Shiraz is sourced from Barossa Valley vineyards and the Cabernet Sauvignon from the cooler, higher-altitude Clare Valley to the north.

What foods pair well with The Formula? Chargrilled lamb chops work well with the wine's peppery spice and savory tannins. Slow-smoked beef brisket complements the dark berry concentration. Aged cheddar or Gruyère echo the bitter chocolate undertones. Eggplant parmigiana matches the wine's weight without overwhelming it. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the finish's bitter cherry and cocoa notes.

What sizes does The Formula come in? The Formula Cabernet Shiraz is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is The Formula worth the price? The Formula positions as a super-premium expression that consistently punches above its price point, delivering complexity and layered fruit that rival more expensive Barossa blends. A 91-point score from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate adds critical validation at this tier.

Why The Formula?

The defining achievement of this wine is its dual-region architecture. Rather than relying solely on Barossa warmth—which can push Shiraz toward one-note ripeness—winemaker Stephen Black counterbalances with Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon grown at higher elevation, where cooler nights preserve acidity and add herbal structure. That deliberate blending philosophy earned the wine 91 points from Wine Advocate and distinguishes it from single-region competitors. For drinkers who want the generosity of a warm-climate Australian red without sacrificing finesse, The Formula delivers exactly what its name implies: a calculated equation where the parts combine into something greater than the sum.