A classic McLaren Vale Cabernet offering up aromas of dark, juicy blackcurrant, cassia bark, toasted anise, sage flower, dusty cedar and worn leather. It is an elegant Cabernet getting more exciting in the glass as it gets some air. A medium to full-bodied wine full of black olive and jubey fruit, firm, fine and textural tannins with spice and comfort redolent of Christmas pudding with warm brandy sauce.

Grenache is Australias signature grape variety and were slightly obsessed with it. Utilising a range of premium vineyards across The Barossa and McLaren Vale regions of South Australia, Thistledown have crafted a wine that captures all that is good about Grenache. Aromatic, deceptively light but with beautiful wild fruit, and slurpy, supple tannins.

One of the few straight varietals in Australia (Petit Verdot is usually blended with other Bordeaux varieties), the nose displays violets, briary blackberry and a hint of cedar. The palate reveals concentrated spicy plum, cherry and mulberry flavours. Will cellar well.

Another impeccably good offering from Chester Osborne combining rich and voluptuous McLaren Vale Shiraz with lifted fragrant Viognier. d'Arenberg is one of the pioneers of this style, the 'Magpie' continues to go from strength to strength.

Tintara from South Australia's McLaren Vale represents both history and innovation in McLaren Vale. With a heritage that dates back to 1861 and with a vision to produce contemporary wines, the result are red wines like this Tintara Cabernet Sauvignon. Full of life and vigour with the typical regional chocolate and mocha characters, this McLaren Vale Cab is a perfect little cellar starter or great paired with lamb shanks.

Sourced from a variety of McLaren Vale vineyards, Hardys Tintara Shiraz is an outstanding representation of archetypal McLaren Vale Shiraz. On the palate, the wine is dense and intense, showing ripe plum & dark berry fruits in combination with chocolate, liquorice and tar. Evenly balanced with a plush texture, an abundance of sweet fruit flavour & fine structural tannin provides a wine of classic McLaren Vale richness with juicy bright fruit flavour.

Kay Brothers Basket Pressed Shiraz has a rich and complex bouquet that promises something special and it certainly delivers. The palate is laden with generous plum, blackberry and spice and the length is exceptional. This one is a keeper! More to the savoury side of Shiraz, it is about texture more than just fruit.

The McLaren Vale can be considered the true home of Grenache blends here in Australia witho some of the oldest vines in the world being dry grown there. Steve Maglieri's Serafino label provides a rich and delicious GSM blend a nose of rose petal and tobacco. The palate flows on with dense coffee and cedar notes that glide across the tongue.

Deep Red with Brick Red hues. BOUQUET Classical Cabernet aromas of cassis, cedar, bay leaf and dark chocolate dominate the nose with hints of supple leather, nettle, and freshly tilled earth. PALATE Smooth milk chocolate, ripe plum and blackcurrant, sit within a savoury but firm tannin structure. Balanced acidity completes the wine, offering great length and persistence.

No, not Pinot Noir from d'Arenberg's home town of McLaren Vale, but an exquisite smelling, plush-feeling Pinot from the cool Adelaide Hills. Not really 'feral' either - rather a pure, varietal Pinot Noir with spicy complexities and a welcome firm tannin structure adding to the 'this is serious stuff' impression that this wine leaves in your mouth.

Now sourcing fruit from premium regions across Australia, this Cabernet blend shows varietal mint on the nose with floral notes in the background. The palate has good weight and texture, the flavours of blackcurrant and herb framed by firm tannins.