Sevenhill was originally set up in 1851 when the Jesuits who settled in the area planted the Clare Valley’s first vines to produce sacramental wine. The estate’s wines, along with its old stone winery, stately St Aloysius’ Church, College building and spacious gardens has made the Sevenhill name famous. So much so that they have recently won the Gourmet Traveller Award for best Large Cellar Door in the Clare Valley! Ray Jordan gives their 2021 Malbec a solid 92pts, "Malbec is a variety that does rather well in Clare, especially as a major blending component with cabernet. Still this one does it solo, and it does it well. Lots of the distinctive red floral fruits on the nose have that stamp of malbec. Bright and alive on a high energy palate with plenty of ripe red fruit characters with chalky tannins and understated oak in support."

Clare Valley’s Jim Barry is a name known around the world – a byword for quality and wine expertise. A founding member of Australia’s First Families of Wine, the Barry family celebrated the 60th anniversary of its winery in 2020, the year it also scooped the title of Halliday’s ‘Winery of the Year’. Over three generations the Barry name has been famous throughout the wine world and synonymous with the Clare Valley. Jim Barry bought his first vineyard here in 1959, and even helped the Taylor family open their winery a decade later. Son Peter took over Jim Barry in 1985, and today brothers Tom and Sam, with sister Olivia, have raised the bar even higher.Their range includes flawless Riesling (think Florita), unique Assyrtiko – a Greek white grape Peter introduced to Australia in 2016 – and exciting reds, including the iconic $350+ Armagh Shiraz. Tom (Gourmet Traveller WINE’s Young Winemaker of the Year 2013) and the impressively bearded Sam continue to push boundaries in style and flavour. "Clare Valley Shiraz is about brightness of fruit. The Eastern Ranges vineyard is one of the Clare Valley’s highest Shiraz vineyards and produces medium bodied Shiraz with bright red and purple fruit and lots of energy and freshness" says winemaker Tom Barry.

Scores of 91pts, 92pts and a star for Special Value point to the quality of this straight Cabernet Franc from the ever-impressive Pikes of the Clare Valley.“Bright and fresh style with good balance of brambly herbal character, pepper and dark plummy fruit, with suggestions of black olive and some more ferrous, earthy elements. Bold perfume, more sleek and almost crisp... Long strides of tannin, and there's a freshness through the finish. This is really pleasing.” Mike Bennie, The Halliday Wine Companion. The Wine Team here certainle agree with Mike. Very pleasing indeed!

At Mt Bera, at an attractive homestead built in the 1880s, in Adelaide Hills, Greg and Katrina Horner have planted a diverse range of varieties, and their vineyards are managed according to organic/biodynamic principles. This 2017, nicely mature Adelaide Hills Cabernet, is called Wild & Free but more for the biodynamic approach to the vineyard management rather than wine style.

You'll love this 93pt Clare Cabernet from the excellent Pikes. “Easy drinking, charming and fresh-feeling cabernet sauvignon that delivers good, true cassis, black cherry, green olive and gum leaf notes all dusted with clove and pepper. Nicely done. Good sense of vitality and graphite tannins tighten the wine gently, but with refreshment factor in tow. A cracking drink for the bucks. 93pts. Great Value” (Mike Bennie, The Halliday Wine Companion). Sam Kim Wine Orbit adds that it's a "...lovely expression of the variety" with "fragrant bouquet... good weight and fine flow...92pts."

The Pikes Eastside Shiraz is a rich ripe fruit Shiraz true to its Clare Valley origins. Dark berry flavours are integrated with the sweet oak character and long, satisfying textured finish.

It’s no surprise this style won Gold. The Barry Family are legends in the Clare Valley, and have used their rich soils and expert skills to produce this truly stunning 100% malbec. Aromas of violets, redcurrants, maraschino cherries and lavender flood the nose. The flavours are plentiful with blueberries, liquorice, violets, dark chocolate and black tea. The wine is full of energy and juicy fruit supported by fine gravelly tannins and fresh cranberry juice acidity. This 100% Malbec shows the potential of the variety to stand on its own and produce a delicious wine with vibrancy and elegance. The first vineyard that my grandfather, Jim Barry, planted in 1964 at our Armagh property was Malbec (900 vines). Since that time, Malbec has played an important part in our winemaking journey and is predominantly blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. The artwork for this label depicts our Lodge Hill Vineyard on the Eastern Ranges of the Clare Valley. Awards: • Trophy