The typical Margaret River Cabernet characters of red berries and leafiness are neatly balanced with the softer, plummy notes of Merlot.

Chris Ringland Shiraz has been one of Australia's most loved wines over the past few years with its immense concentration of bold, forboding fruit. Chris Ringland, the man behind such famous names as Three Rivers Shiraz, creates a wine that is made from mature Northern Barossa vines and shows dark mass of concentrated black and blue fruits, laced with sweet mocha and wrapped in a smooth, velvety texture. Not for the faint of heart, the CR Shiraz is improving vintage on vintage.

Brown Brothers Cienna, with all its generous fruit sweetness is a joyous lower alcohol red that is a truly easy drinking style. The nose is filled with juicy berry aromas and the palate is soft flavoursome and slightly spritzy.

Krondorf is a name synonymous with the Barossa Valley with a long and prestigious history. Beginning life with the establishment of the Glenview winery back in the 1850s, Krondorf was reinvigorated by Grant Burge in 1978 and today has gone on to become one of the country's most awarded wineries. The Shiraz is a class-A, born and bred, full-bodied Barossa red. Bright garnet in colour with a vibrant nose of mulberry and hints of sweet strawberry. In balance tannin and acid balance along with a superb long length make this Barossan a wonderful value-for-money buy.

Always uncompromising, 19 Crimes Red Blend is vibrant and bold. It's dark berry fruits mixed with spice oak flavours are apparent on the palate. With subtle tannins and a silky smooth finish, it is almost a crime not to share it with your family and friends at the dinning table.

A certified organic producer, Nature's Harvest is also focused on minimising their use of additives. Made in a soft and round style, there are hints of pepper and plum, with spice and a touch of oak for complexity.

Taylors Discoveries Shiraz is a deep red with a vibrant purple hues, showcasing lifted fruit aromas of red currant, plum and a touch of spice. Subtle chocolate flavours and savoury characters from the oak maturation add complexity which balance perfectly the rich plum and spice on the palate. Soft and fleshy, with a silky smooth finish. Short term cellaring will reward, however able to be enjoyed immediately.

Wynns Shiraz continues to be one of Australia's affordable favourites. Tucked away in the cellar of many budding wine collectors, Wynns Shiraz has all the structure and pedigree of some of its higher priced brothers and sisters. Rich varietal characters of plum, spice and pepper are woven through the minty regional notes and framed by fine, firm tannins.

The South Island of New Zealand is home to some of the worlds greatest new world Pinot Noir's and Central Otago can claim a large proportion of these. This superb Otago Pinot from South Island is an exotic light bodied red with wild fruit flavours of strawberry and ripe cherry and proves you don't have to break the bank to get great Otago Pinot Noir.

Pioneer of the Coonawarra region, John Riddoch, lends his name to the highway that dissects the famous 'terra rossa' dominated region which is home to some of Australia's premier red wine vineyards. The fruit for this evocative Shiraz is sourced from some of these vineyards and is aged in a combination of French and American oak for 18 months to develop increased complexity. Exuding plum and red fruit aromas with just a tiny hint of oak that supports the rich textured palate. Perfect for enjoying today or for careful medium term cellaring.