ColourBrilliant cherry red colour; bright and attractive.AromaSavoury bouquet, perfumed with dark maraschino cherry, quince paste, very subtle smoky oak complexity.PalateElegant medium bodied, with a good line of acidity and a clean finish. Lingering ripe cherry flavour balanced by distinct but gentle tannins.

Back in 2017 I was intrigued to see if my theory about certain varieties from warm-climate dry-grown vineyards are ideal for light-bodied red wines, even to be enjoyed with a bit of a chill on it! That ended up being one of my most successful wines, so in 2022 I made my fourth wine from Nero d’Avola grown by the Chalmers family at their Merbein vineyard. Fruit was hand-picked then transported in a refrigerated truck and delivered to the winery the next day. It was de-stemmed and sat on skins for only five days which accounted for the majority of fermentation. Once pressed it completed its fermentation in a stainless-steel tank, then was transferred to mature French oak puncheons (500L). After spending six months in barrel the wine was racked and blended, then bottled in November 2022.

Nero Davola is one of Italy’s most important indigenous red varieties. Named after its historic birthplace around the town of Avola in southeastern Sicily, it is most widely planted in Sicily and accounts for the largest share of red wines produced on the island. Today Nero Davola is the primary grape used in the majority of Sicily’s best red wines. Colour - Deep red colour. Bouquet - Multiple aromas on the nose, especially notes of black cherry, spice and liquorice. Flavour - A lively personality with soft, long lasting tannins. Food Pairing - The high acidity that characterizes Nero. Davola means it will work well with any of your favourite tomato based recipes. For the lighter styles think grilled fish and light meats in Mediterranean style dishes.

6ft6 Shiraz is a rich, succulent and savoury style of Shiraz. More about finesse and complextity than potency, this red reflects the Moorabool Valley's ability to produce a more refined style than most warmer regions. Unless you have more will power than most, enjoy this Geelong red while young and fresh.

A beautifully elegant form of Shiraz from Picardy displaying notes or red fruits, cracked black pepper and spice. A fresh, vibrant wine with suede like silky tannins and a wonderfully lingering finish. Super stylish effort.

Made by Rockstar winemaker Ben Riggs, the McLaren Vale Shiraz is as true an expression as one could hope for. The fifth release of the wine is based around a core of pristine fruit with dark red berries, hints of spice, earth, tar and leather and with seamlessly integrated oak. Ripe tannins are apparent but not overwhelming, meaning this is a wine which can be enjoyed now or in the next 10-15 years.

One of the Yarra Valley's up and comers, the Punt Road Shiraz is almost black in colour with aromas of cassis and a whiff of licquorice. A palate of plush plums and blackcurrant follows with flash of peppery spice. Kate Goodman continues to do a stellar job at one of the Yarra Valley's best wineries.

Classically pale in the glass, Nebbiolo is a deceptive and beautiful wine by Pizzini. The nose is all allure and seduction with classic, deep rose petal perfume, plenty of anise-scented spice and bright red fruits. The palate's deep, juicy and mouth-filling red cherry and plum flavours run on sturdy tannins, laced with liquorice and finishing bright.

The EJ Shiraz is the jewel in Paxton's organic and biodynamic crown. Awarded 95 points in the Halliday Wine Companion 2017, this wine is the result of low yielding vines that are more than a century old. The flavour is elegant and round and the nose offers vanilla, black current and oak.

Kanopkop's Kadette is a a blend of Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that is full bodied and concentrated. It is a fantastic ambassador for South African wines and drinks well with spicy meat dishes.