Your quest for the best sub-$20 Merlot is over. One of McLaren Vale's most explosive producers of the past 10-15 years is offered here on an silver platter. Everything you love about Merlot in one bottle; luscious black fruits with soft cuddly tannins and hints of spiced coffee.

When it comes to Australian Merlot, Katnook is among the very best. Lovely plum dark berry and cedary cigar box characters slip seamlessly into a finish that seems everlasting. Aged for 22 months in French oak, the swathes of blackcurrant are a delight to the senses.

Pete Bissell from Balnaves consistently produces Cabernet of highest order and this little beauty that falls under the $20 mark is just perfect as a cellar starter. Gentle mintiness on the nose. Dusty tannins frame a fantastic medium weighted structured wine. Lovely fruit intensity terrific with BBQ lamb or all on its own.

Château La Fleur Pétrus is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominant red blend. Vintage 2010 has the great balance between the intensity of the fruits, acidity and oak flavour. Ripe black fruits and jammy cherries with a hint of meaty back tone. Full body with pronounced tannins, elegantly put together. Perfect for those who love to cellar their reds.

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.

The Bethany Cabernet Merlot from the Schrapel family's Bethany winery exhibits herbal blackberry and cherry flavours with subtle oak in the background. Drinking well now, but also can handle a little bit of medium term cellaring to really coax those soft, ripe tannins to infuse beautifully with its primary fruit.

The 2008 release of this took out the prestigious tri-nations award. The 2009 from a stronger vintage looks even better. A classicist?s Merlot; plum and cassis supported by fine tannin.

A nose of cassis and chocolate with a hint of tobacco. The palate is filled with irresistible mulberry fruit and the tannins are soft and velvety. An impressive effort from a Margaret River icon!

Tempus Two Cabernet Merlot is well-balanced and full-bodied, exhibiting rich berry fruit and chocolate flavours. Matured in both French and American barriques for ten months to capture and enhance the complexities of these two varieties

Always regarded as one of Margaret River's favourite wineries due to the inherant quality. Forester Estate seems to marry beautifully with their value-for-money philosophy. This Cabernet Merlot continues to win wide acclaim due to its dark purple colour and its lifted aromas of raspberries and black forest cake. Rich berry flavours are well balanced by a tight tannin structure typical of quality Margaret River Cabernets. The other great bonus is the ability of this great Cab blend to morph into a true cellar star.