I am so excited about Californian wine production - it’s always a thrill to see these wines on our shores. This is pinot with power - smokey and meaty at the fore, which gives way to a dried cherry and pink flower potpourri and sweet baking spice. On the palate it’s silky smooth and delightfully shapely with some punchy acidity give the wine real get-up-and-go. This isn’t so much lithe and supple as it is round in the mouth; almost (but not quite) enough to be stepping outside the bounds of varietal typicity. Structured and bold but ethereal none the less.

6ft6 Shiraz is a rich, succulent and savoury style of Shiraz. More about finesse and complextity than potency, this red reflects the Moorabool Valley's ability to produce a more refined style than most warmer regions. Unless you have more will power than most, enjoy this Geelong red while young and fresh.

A beautifully elegant form of Shiraz from Picardy displaying notes or red fruits, cracked black pepper and spice. A fresh, vibrant wine with suede like silky tannins and a wonderfully lingering finish. Super stylish effort.

From the famous Tuscan region of Chianti, this wine is made from Sangiovese. The Chianti Classico style a wine is slightly richer on the palate, yet with that trademark dusty tannin and earthy spice backbone that make this wine such a brilliant match with pasta.

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.

Ingoldby McLaren Vale Shiraz is deep red in colour with purple hues. Red berries and plums on the nose, a spicy, peppery, plummy palate with good length of flavour and a smooth, lingering finish.

Rich, sweet cherry and blackberry fruits overlay the supple palate. Subtle use of oak adds fine soft tannins to this well-structured wine.

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.

One of the Yarra Valley's up and comers, the Punt Road Shiraz is almost black in colour with aromas of cassis and a whiff of licquorice. A palate of plush plums and blackcurrant follows with flash of peppery spice. Kate Goodman continues to do a stellar job at one of the Yarra Valley's best wineries.