2006 Patrick of Coonawarra Home Block Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes were grown at the Toccaciu Coonawarra estate, and the wine was matured for 26 months in French and American oak; while I am not a fan of ProCork, this is a very attractive wine, which has cruised through six, rising seven, years, the cassis and cedar flavours supported by very fine but persistent tannins.

Deep crimson in colour with aromas of blackcurrant, dark cherry, and graphite, layered with hints of cedar and tobacco. The palate is powerful yet refined, showing concentrated black fruit, fine-grained tannins, and balanced acidity. Long, elegant finish with notes of dark chocolate and subtle spice, promising excellent cellaring potential.

Never forget the teeth. Especially with a good cabernet like this. You’ve got 36 gleaming ivory sensors to swirl the flavours around. To thresh the tannins against like waves on rocks. To chew the chewiness and know it’s real. Swirling, filtering, rewinding the tape over the playback heads in the back. And letting it all go, bar the mouth-filling echo that lingers just long enough to make you second-guess. And have some more.

Deep garnet with aromas of blackcurrant, cedar and graphite. The palate is rich and structured, showing concentrated cassis, dark chocolate and fine-grained tannins. Elegant and powerful, it finishes long with classic Coonawarra mint and oak spice.

Named after the famed Johann Gramp's grandson, Hugo, this is the very best Cabernet Sauvignon in the stable. From the very best sites in the region of Coonawarra, this wine shows classic regional mint and blackcurrant on the nose with a silky supple palate, elegant fruit characters, toasty oak and long, fine tannins.

The superb Wynns Coonawarra Estate Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc is a debut release, marking the first time the winery has bottled this varietal as a standalone offering. Sourced from the McKillop Vineyard in northern Coonawarra, it features vibrant red fruit flavours of raspberry and violet, supported by fine chalky tannins and aged exclusively in large-format neutral French oak vats for freshness.

Is a cracker, but an idiosyncratic wine; much in the same way as Bordeaux’s Château Tertre Roteboeuf. It’s the type of claret style that would win a prize in the Australian Burgundy classes of yore. Voluminous and inky deep, it show lifted cassis, cedar, dried apricot, hint wood varnish aromas and flavours, fine supple/slinky texturesand well-integrated roasted chestnut notes. This is a terrific ‘vin de garde’ with all the elements for long term ageing. A high water mark for Terre à Terre.

Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva is ruby red in colour. The nose shows intensely fruity notes of ripe cherries, red currants, and wild berry fruit along with well integrated notes of toasted oak and tobacco, and a touch of balsamic sensations. The palate is ample and enveloping, savory, soft in its tannins and velvety in texture. The finish and aftertaste are long and persistent. Antinori is a name synonymous with wine in Italy, the equivalent of the royal family of wine in the country. Intimately involved in the wine industry of Italy since 1385, initially in Tuscany, but in more recent years their influence has grown seeing them involved in wine-making projects across the country. They were instrumental in the renaissance of Chianti and their portfolio of wines includes some stellar names such as Tignanello - the Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc blend that was most influential in the Super Tuscan movement, Solaia - the Cabernet dominant blend also from the Tignanello Estate and the beautiful Peppoli Chianti Classico.

Yalumba continue to produce amazing quality, premium wines for a fraction of the price they could demand. The Menzies is prime example with rich, blackcurrant and cassis fruit with integrated oak that fills the mouth.

The Author pays homage to pioneering vigneron John Riddoch (1827 - 1901). A true visionary, Riddoch is regarded as one of the founding fathers of Australian wine. An influential figure, he established the Coonawarra fruit colony in 1890 and is synonymous with the region's story. The Author represents the finest expression of the vintage. Dark red in colour with a vibrant crimson hue, the wine shows ripe red berry fruit and plum flavours with hints of spice. Matured in new and seasoned French oak hogsheads, the seamlessly integrated oak intertwines with a core of intense dark fruit. Plush, velvety tannins lead to a long and persistent length of flavour. This has all the hallmarks of a classic Coonawarra Shiraz and will drink well now but will reward patient cellaring for 10 to 15 years.