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.

One of the benchmark wines to come out of the Coonawarra, the Penfolds Bin 128 is a delightful cool-climate shiraz. Matured in French Oak, with flavours of white pepper and floral spice, the 2014 Bin 128 is a rich and full-bodied Shiraz.

Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon is the beacon of quality that all Australian Cabernet Sauvignon is compared to. Coming off the iconic red soils of Coonawarra, Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon is classic elegance. Chief winemaker, Sue Hodder, is able to craft a wine brimming with aromas of blackcurrant and plum that combine with spicy minty notes. The palate is well structured, long and fine. With the right cellaring condition, this could easily be a cellar gem.

Dense, but fresh. An elegant expression of Coonawarra Cabernet. Aromatics of anise, mulberry and violet. There’s luscious black liquorice on the palate with layers and layers of silky mouth-coating tannins and a real finesse to the palate shape. The best of the best from an incredibly strong vintage for Cabernet.

Jacaranda Ridge Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, always exhibiting its Coonawarra provenance in the form of regional aromas and flavours, the intensity of the fruit produced by this location is exceptional for the region. Showcasing traditional regional characters of fine tannin and blackberry leaf, but also a darker, brooding quality unique to the vineyard from which the grapes were sourced. The balance and poise of this wine, along with the ample cassis and dark berry fruit flavour, will see this age well for decades to come.

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.

Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz is an intriguing counterpoint to the warm-climate Bin 28 Shiraz. Showcasing fruits soured from unique terra rossa soils of Coonawarra – a region that exemplifies the perfume, transparency and unique seductive nature of cool-climate reds. Elegant, finely structured and deeply expressive, this wine will reward cellaring for decades.

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.

A celebration of one of Abbey Estate’s finest blocks; the Cabernet fruit for this wine was first planted in 1995, our team fell in love with the quality of the grapes ten years ago and so crafted the first Block 95. We’ve been making it ever since. Dark red with purple hues. Aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, bramble, and dried herbs. Palate of persistent black fruit with subtle leaf and herbal undertones. Serious character with notable length and structure.

Petaluma Merlot is medium body with a brick red colour, the superbly perfumed bouquet is a tangle of marzipan, spice, plum and confectionery and is the best nose of the early Petalumas. On the palate, flavours of cherry, plum and spice emerge, with very good depth and complexity.

From premium Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the renowned Coonawarra region only the best fruit is used to produce an elegant dry red wine exhibiting intense varietal berry fruit characters and fine oak tannins.