The 2010 Chateau d'Issan is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, showing 'classic Margaux' in its perfume, finesse and apparent elegance. Soils are gravel and clay, which contributes to the high-tones of perfume from the wine, and though an estate that is neccesarily clawing its way back to a higher profile, is doing so with deeds in bottle over showmanship. On its side, the vineyard is dense with older vines that naturally offer lower yields, allowing for a higher quality of fruit for the winemaking team, in turn producing a wine of stellar quality from 2010.

From the stable of Devils Lair, Fifth Leg is a blend of Cabernet, Shiraz and Merlot that is a soft and supple drink-now style. The quality of the Margaret River fruit gives it flavour which will appeal to the serious red wine drinker as well.

Margaret River Cabernet aromas of dark berries, chocolate and mint are evident as you nose this wine. The palate has attractive, fleshy fruit framed by ripe tannins. A lovely drink now style.

Based on Cabernet, Sassicaia is one of the first Italian reds to be made in the image of Bordeaux. In the late 1990s Sassicaia was granted its own DOC, the only wine from a single vineyard to enjoy this privilege.

Balnaves has always produced a a classically elegant Coonawarra Cabernet. Blackcurrant fruit, liquorice and mineral characters are enhanced by cedary French oak. Beautifully balanced with a long, textured finish.

For many years a champion of premium Australian Cabernet Shiraz, Yalumba first created FDR as an elite quality wine to reward staff and to enter high end wine shows. Now available to us mere mortals, it is rich in black fruits and spice.

Barokes Cabernet Shiraz Bin 121 displays red and crimson colours. A rich mouth feel is provided by the shiraz, with a firm finish of the cabernet. There are ripe aromas on the nose with a subtle hint of oak.

Serafino is the winery behind industry icon, Steve Maglieri. Arriving in McLaren Vale in 1968, Steve embarked on a career that has seen his wines win multiple awards across the world. His Cabernet Sauvignon contains fruit that is hand selected from multiple vineyard sites throughout McLaren Vale to deliver a wine that is full-bodied and full of richness. Copious amounts of blackcurrant and blueberry fruit await with supreme textural oak balancing the opulence.

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.

Bright medium red with purple hue in colour; On the nose: pronounced Blackcurrant, crushed wet leaves and dark plums, bouquet of wild violet and a decent amount of almost wet tobacco oak. A full bodied wine that has great length on the palate with firm but refined tannins. Simply outstanding in its class.