Classic Margaret River nose of cassis, mulberries and capsicum. Fermentation and development in French and American oak, gives this wine a delicious mouthful of sweet fruit with notes of chocolate, cedar and plums.

The Smith & Hooper Cabernet Merlot is a harmonious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot displaying aromas of red berries, eucalypt and a hint of vanilla. Flavours of mulberries, cherry and blackcurrants fill out the smoothly textured palate.

Barwang, value-for-money and consistency all go hand-in-hand. It's the hallmark of a winery that is producing some fantastic wines at great prices at the moment. Their Shiraz shows ripe blackberry fruit flavours that are supported by some savoury and spicy undertones. This is wine that continually over delivers for its price, the same can also be said of the entire Barwang range.

The high altitude Orange region is producing some outstanding Merlot and this release, made by Debbie Lauritz, is a great example. Aromas of dried herb and currant are supported with sweet fruit flavours.

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.

Produced from old hillside vineyards in the Herault valley in the south of France, this polished blend from Paul Mas is smoothly textured on the palate with dark berry and sweet spice flavours. Outstanding value.

One could be mistaken for thinking Grove Estate was in the heart of Coonawarra with it's vivid red soil. It's in fact nestled in the emerging region of Hilltops in NSW and with the guidance of Canberra guru, Tim Kirk, this great Cabernet shows flavours and aromas of liquorice, blackberry and rich cassis.

In the glass: Full deep red. On the nose: Delicate redcurrant, plum, cedar and a light leafy lift. On the palate: Textured with a medium weight core of dark fruit, elegant line and touches of coffee, cherry and savoury oak.

In the glass: Medium to deep red black. On the nose: Full of bright red cherry with hints of red olive and fine oak spice. On the palate: Quite a jubey and appealing red fruit core giving long and silken flavours that are generous and classy. Fine oak gives subtle support throughout. Lovely now yet with good mid-term potential.

"Performing even better from bottle than it did from barrel, the 2002 Merlot Brookman Vineyard offers complex aromas of sweet espresso roast, black cherries, and white chocolate. This is a thick, juicy Merlot with plenty of structure and tannin as well as considerable intensity and impressive volume. It may be the finest Merlot ever produced in Australia. It will drink well for 10-15 years. Roman Bratasiuk is one of Planet Earths greatest winemakers, and obviously a top-notch viticulturist given his obsession with sourcing extraordinary fruit from ancient McLaren Vale vineyards. 91 points Drink 2004-2019" Wine Advocate #155 (Oct 2004) Robert Parker