Dark cherry, black brambly fruits and subtle oak spice. Dark berries packed around spicy oak, fine acidity and silky tannins.

This Central Ranges Merlot compares very nicely to others of many times the price. The taste on the front palate is juicy and grapey, brimming with plum flavours bridled nicely to a gently astringent finish; serving to shape the flavours as much as drive the wine to a satisfying length. Perfect with lamb and game.

One of the great wines of Australia, Hunter Shiraz is powerful as it is subtle. Everything is in balance: Pure ripe blackberry fruit flavours, some spice and earthy characters and round soft tannins.

From a fantastic vintage in the Hunter Valley, the Tyrrell's Wines Shiraz 2014 has been crafted in a distinctive Hunter Burgundy style by red winemaker Mark Richardson. In the glass: Medium density red.On the nose: Black cherry, plum, earth, leather and pepper.On the palate: Unashamedly medium weight and very savoury with a fine, velvety texture showing red and black fruit flavours with earth and spice elements, fine tannins and a persistent finish. A true Hunter Burgundy style.

What the Hunter Valley and David Hook does so very well - meduim bodied reds that have good savoury length and nice integrated tannins.

McWilliam's Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea Shiraz continues lead the pack of great Hunter Valley Shiraz. A lovely return to old form, this Maurice has a striking purple hue to it in the glass. To the nose aromas of liquorice and spice with hints of cedar will beguile. Layers of complex flavours dance across the palate including savoury, spicy dark fruits like dark plums and cherries. A classic of classics.