“Vivacious? Juicy? We expect durif to be bold, but it can also surprise. Here we see a case in point: a fragrant, supple, smooth durif with plenty left in reserve. There is power, but there is also elegance. Dark berries and plums, dried rosemary, violet, bitter chocolate, spice and a touch of amaro bitters introduce a wine that runs long, with tannins wrapped nicely around the whole.95pts, Great Value” (Jeni Port, The Halliday Wine Companion). Owned and managed by the 4th generation of the Brown family, All Saints’ National Trust–listed property, with its impressive castle tower centrepiece, is an eye catching destination for visitors. With ancient vines and some of the oldest fortified wines in the country, they specialise in Muscat, muscadelle, Shiraz, Marsanne,and fabulous Durif, as is in evidence here.

Deep, dark with vibrant red hues. De Bortoli Rutherglen Estate Tempranillo is elegant, with elements of berry fruits and a cherry compote.

Christmas cake dark colour, with tinges of olive green at the rim. Thick and viscous in the glass. The aromas combine the impression of great age with tremendous vitality. Deep and brooding, reminiscent of curious characters such as cold tea, leather, tobacco and malt, coupled with pretty honeysuckle and barley sugar notes. Then the flavours, simultaneously almost impossibly sweet, tart and intense. It has rich malt, polished leather, bursts of raisined fruit, vibrant spice and earthy warmth. The initial sweetness gives way to mouth watering acidity and tactile graininess followed by a constantly developing finish that lasts for minutes. Almost overwhelming at first, even the tiniest sip is immensely satisfying and yet decadently moreish.

The wine has a tawny colour with hints of red. The aroma is a mix of ripe berry fruit, with rancio characters from extended barrel maturation. On the palate there is ripe fruit giving a generous mouth feel with hints of vanilla and chocolate. The wine has an attractive drying finish.

A Morris flagship wine with many awards to its name, Bin 158 Durif was pioneered by Mick Morris in the 1950s. Flaunting a deep brick red colour with purple overtones, the wine opens with aromas of blackberries and violets on the nose, with subtle cedar nuances from oak influence. Concentrated plum and berry fruit flavours, solid tannins, and hints of oak offer great structure and length to the palate of this full-bodied wine. Considered as a true icon of Australian wine, this Durif tastes amazing when paired with game or red meats, and casseroles.

Durif originated in the Rhône Valley of France, but has been grown in Rutherglen for over a century. Its a variety that tends to make rather bold wines, like this beauty! Deep red black. Super-rich black cherry cola with iodine and prune. Palate equally intense with lashings of inky dark plum, prune and dark cherry, satiny and rounded mouthfeel, espresso-like tannins and plenty of charry oak. Sweet, rich and ripe.

A distinctly lighter and more savoury style with a wonderful lifted aroma of red fruit and dried herbs. Well balanced with lively acidity and fruit coupled with just a hint of oak.