Climbing Merlot is a rich red coloured wine with purple hues. Fruit for this wine came from 600 metres above the sea level giving it intense flavours and great elegance. It has delectable aromas of rich red berries, plums and bell pepper along with some oak. The palate is medium bodied with soft tannins and light oak. The wine is ready to be consumed now and can also be cellared for up to 5 years. Drink it with rich meaty dishes!

Whenever we taste a blind Shiraz line up where this wine is featured, it's hard not to be lured into its enticing character of purity and style. Hauntingly akin to a Northern Rhone example, violets, spice, wild herb and earth wrap around a delicious core of red fruits and plum. Bravo Nick O'Leary. 'Canberra's benign 201213 growing season produced, in abundance, grape quality not seen in the much cooler, wetter 2011 and 2012 vintages. Our exciting 2013 reds include Nick O'Leary's shiraz a jaw dropper that kept judges gaping as they piled gongs on it at the 2014 Royal Brisbane Wine Show. They gave it a gold medal, then three trophies: best one-year-old red of the show (Stoddart trophy), best shiraz of the show and best red of the show. This is a significant achievement for Canberra shiraz and not just for O'Leary. It provides yet more recognition, in a hotly contested national event, of our region's distinctive style. O'Leary's highly perfumed, medium-bodied wine shows the vibrant red berry- and-spice character of cool-grown shiraz on a luscious, silky palate, cut with fi ne tannins. This is a lot of wine at a modest price.' (2013 Vintage) - 4½ Stars. - Canberra Times, 03 Sep 2014.

This red wine is a delicious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes, procured from picturesque vineyards in the renowned Margaret River wine region. Poured into a glass, it shows a medium deep red colour accompanied by purple hues. The fragrant nose offers lifted aromas of dark berries and spice coupled with dried herb and chocolate hints. The flavoursome and supple palate is filled with dark plum and cherry flavours. Creamy vanilla nuances enhance the palate, while incredibly soft tannins lead to a satisfying finish. This drink can be enjoyed upon release. Serve it with red wine braised beef chuck, filet mignon or double chocolate cake.

This wine by JJ Hahn showcases the lovely softness, elegance and sensitivity that is Merlot. This vineyard has continually produced fruit that doesn't show excessive ripeness on the nose or on the palate and has always surprised us in the most difficult of years.

Occupying some of the more elevated land in the Canberra District, Quarry Hill produces a Shiraz with ripe flavours and excellent natural acids; the hallmarks of great cool-climate Shiraz. Aged in a mix of new and older French oak, the wine is bright purple in the glass, follwed by aromas of raspberry, plum, spice and a little pepper. Through the palate, there are flavours of mulberry and plum, fine tannins and a crisp, dry finish.

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

Amelia Park, although a recent player in the Margaret River Wine scene, have made an astonishing impact. Jeremy Gordon takes a hands on approach to all things at his winery and the results are for everyone to see. Already a multi award-winner, the Amelia Park Cabernet Merlot is a seamless wine that is wonderfully medium-bodied with a fine acid backbone that simply sings from beginning to end.