There's a lot to adore about this Cabernet Sauvignon from a beloved family-owned winery. Halliday deemed it worthy of 92 points, and it's picked up four gold medals from Australian wine shows. But if that pedigree doesn't impress you, one sip of this beautiful red will.

The Shingleback D Block Reserve Shiraz is named for the Davey Block of the Davey Estate vineyard and is the personal expression of the McLaren Vale from the eyes of winemaker John Davey. True reserve wines, the D Block is only made in exceptional vintages just like this 2009. In the glass the wine has a colour that is impenetrable purple red. On the nose there are aromas of mulberry and blackberry that mingle with dusty cashew, milky chocolate (typical of McLaren Vale), spice and forest floor. There are tight, fine tannins to counter the bold, fresh fruit which results in an alluring and unmistakable wine that expresses the essence of the vine, the time and the place.

The wine is medium-bodied with flavours of raspberry and blueberry along with delicious white chocolate characters. The overall texture of this fruit-driven wine is sublimely soft and silky. It is a wonderfully easy to enjoy drop.

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Delightful – and food friendly, 93pt blend of Grenache and Carignan from the Leask Brothers, whose Hither & Yon winery specialises in interesting varieties and blends. "Off grenache (60%) vines planted in 2009 and carignan (40%) in 2014 from the Sand Road vineyard. This, the first release, is very much in a bistro weight. The buoyant red-berried grenache is lively and juicy, with carignan adding scrubby herb and spice notes, the enthusiasm of the former balanced but not quelled by the latter. It’s an appealing wine, with a zippiness to the finish that will see it work nicely with so many foods, from lighter vegetable plates to fattier meat dishes. 92pts." (Marcus Ellis, The Halliday Wine Companion). John Lehmann, writing in The Australian agrees: "Fruity is as fruity does: from the sweet, intense nose of raspberry, blackberry and vanilla to the plush, generous palate. With flavours too of coffee and mocha with some earthy notes and herbs, it’s a happy marriage of grenache’s ripeness with the meatier tones of the carignan which make this so very food-friendly. "

The Hill Block straddles the ridge running through the Chapel Hill estate. The wine was then aged for 19 months in 100% tight grained French oak. The proportion of new oak was kept low to encourage the continued expression of the characters that are unique to the vineyard site.

d'Arenberg are quintessential McLaren Vale and the produce wines that reflect their regionality perfectly. Even down to their affordable value for money wines like this Stump Jump GSM blend. A flavoursome, easy drinking style, ripe and juicy with lovely soft tannins and a savoury, earthy touch.

The Parson GSM is a traditional take on three of McLaren Vale's most important and historical varieties. The wine displays hints of rosemary and aniseed the nose. The big palate is layered with liquorice and dark chocolate flavours that are beautifully interwoven into the textured firm tannin structure.

Cherry red. Enticing primary aromas of ripe strawberries, cherries and roses are highlighted with hints of earthy chocolate. Bright summer berries fill the lively, medium weight palate. The luscious Grenache is complemented and structurally enhanced by the darker berry flavours and ripe tannins of the Shiraz and Mourvèdre, offering immediate appeal, whilst with age the wine will develop an attractive, savoury complexity.

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.