Ripe and generous, the leafy, minty characters of Cabernet are complemented by the softness and plummy fruit coming from the Merlot. A nice touch of sweet oak completes the picture.

The Pike brothers established Pikes winery in the Polish Hill sub-region of the Clare Valley in 1984, renovating an old stone shearing shed to house their winery and cellar door. Neil is the veteran winemaker (he’s done 38 vintages in Clare); Andrew the seasoned viticulturist (he spent 22 years working for big names like Wynn’s Coonawarra and Southcorp before establishing Pikes). Together they turn out formidable wines that earn plenty of show medals and critical acclaim. Their richly textured 2017 'Wilfred's Block' really is magnificent. A definitive Australian blend of inky, slatey Cabernet and sumptuous, spicy Shiraz, it’s a contemplative wine – the layers of flavour will reveal themselves slowly – and perfect for winter sipping. It will cellar well until 2032, but is still drinking beautifully now. Decant, pour into big glasses, and savour with good food and good friends.

A typically full flavoured Clare Valley Shiraz from the crew at Annie's Lane; exhibiting ripe, plummy fruit characters with a touch of spice and some regional minty notes.

Ruby red with purple hues, with a bouquet of cherries, plums and subtle spice. The wine displays lovely rich, soft berry flavours with hints of cinnamon and vanillin oak.

The grapes for this sibling to the organic Chardonnay are sourced from Angove's own Organically certified Nanya vineyards and premium certified Organic growers in the Riverland region. The result is a versatile, vibrant and spicy yet easy to drink red full of dark fruit and soft oak flavours, with a long yet soft, earthy finish.

The gravelly soils and sunny climate of Hawkes Bay are producing some of New Zealand's most exciting reds. This classy Merlot from Oyster Bay shows soft spicy varietal flavours such as, juicy plums and ripe dark fruits. Accompanied by well intergraded oak and subtle tannins, making this wine one of the easier matching to food.

Restrained red fruit with a background of menthol, leather and tobacco on the nose leads to a big mouthful of cherries, vanilla and plums with good intensity. A nicely balanced wine, drinking very well.

A pioneer of the Australian wine industry, Jim Barry was responsible for shaping South Australia's Clare Valley as a benchmark producer of world-class shiraz and cabernet sauvignon. Today, two generations of the Barry family ensure his legacy grows and continues on, constantly innovating and producing high-quality wines. GOLD! A true standout and a new addition to the Jim Barry stables, featuring plenty of black fruits and measured spice supported by toasty oak - this medium, tending full-bodied shiraz is a real winner and a must try! GOLD Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2016.

Howard Park are Western Australia's largest family-owned winery whose reputation is unsurpassed. Their Madfish range of wines continue to provide great value-for-money while still offering that Western Australian quality we've all come to enjoy. The Cabernet Merlot has a luscious smooth ripe flavour profile without being sweet with regional notes of black olives and eucalypt.