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Medium purple hue. Ripe blackberry & black cherry with hints of fresh tobacco. Upfront, it is all juicy and dark fruited - ripe plum, tangy blueberry with a touch of ribena sweetness - but to follow, a hint of smoky cured meatiness and fine chalky tannin serve to make the finish savoury yet muy refrescante. Fermented in open stainless steel vats on skins for 14 days. Gentle pressing off skins via airbag press. The brainchild of Guy Anderson and Thierry Boudinaud, Fat Bastard Wines came into being via an exclamation, "Now that is what you call a Fat Bastard!" The comment came in response to a barrel of experimental Chardonnay that Thierry had left on lees for an extended maturation. Both Guy and Thierry felt that the wines had to be shared with the world, and so Fat Bastard Wines was born. Now, the pair work with wineries and vineyards from all over the world, sourcing fruit and juice from a myriad different regions and countries. But one factor remains the same: they make unapologetically full-bodied wines, packed with flavour and vibrancy.

Sevenhill was originally set up in 1851 when the Jesuits who settled in the area planted the Clare Valley’s first vines to produce sacramental wine. The estate’s wines, along with its old stone winery, stately St Aloysius’ Church, College building and spacious gardens has made the Sevenhill name famous. So much so that they have recently won the Gourmet Traveller Award for best Large Cellar Door in the Clare Valley! Ray Jordan gives their 2021 Malbec a solid 92pts, "Malbec is a variety that does rather well in Clare, especially as a major blending component with cabernet. Still this one does it solo, and it does it well. Lots of the distinctive red floral fruits on the nose have that stamp of malbec. Bright and alive on a high energy palate with plenty of ripe red fruit characters with chalky tannins and understated oak in support."

The Pikes Eastside Shiraz is a rich ripe fruit Shiraz true to its Clare Valley origins. Dark berry flavours are integrated with the sweet oak character and long, satisfying textured finish.

Inviting and complex aromatics welcome you into this wine; brambly, leafy notes backed up by deep dark fruit with subtle spice and char interplay on the nose. There is a deceptive density to this wine's aroma that hints at what lies beyond. The 2016 release builds on that breakthrough style - the wine shows plush generosity but there is a layering of flavours and complexity to this vintage that invites not just a second but third look. Generous, accessible primary fruit sits pretty up front but let the wine breathe and suddenly these dry, fine and lightly chewy tannins build on the back palate, lending a savoury edge to the dark fruit finish of this baby.

Deep red in the glass with a bold and expressive nose of black fruits and raspberries with subtle notes of spicy oak. The palate is medium bodied with compelling red berry flavours framed by chalky tannins and a savoury character. An impressively long, dry finish makes it a good match for lamb back straps with rosemary and garlic.

The lovely Clare Valley is renowned for producing outstanding wines. This dark inky Malbec offers aromas of pepper and sage leading to a palate of dark berry fruit flavours with subtle toasted oak. This wine is a vibrant accompaniment to charred meats or grilled salmon.

The Red Claw is the complimenting range to the estate Yabby Lake wines that call the Mornington Peninsula home. This Shiraz though is sourced from the Cambrian rich soils of Heathcote, a region which has quickly become one of Australia's premier Shiraz growing areas. Dark berry and spice dominated, there are underlying notes of pepper and crushed herbs. Fermented in 100% French Oak, there is a subtlety to this Shiraz that lends itself to many cuisine matches.