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.

The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for this wine is sourced from the Cookoothama Vineyard on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River at Darlington Point in the Riverina. Deep red in appearance with a youthful purple hue. Aromas of plum and blackberry, infused with hints of spice, herbs and dark chocolate. Concentrated flavours of red berry fruits, mocha and spice with ripe silky tannin and well integrated oak.

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.

Recognised as one of the first vineyards in the Hunter Valley, Audrey Wilksonson has a long and storied history in the region. They continue today to produce wines of region character with fine craftsmanship. Their Hunter Valley Shiraz is a wine in perfect harmony. Majority French oak is used to mature a wine that has flavours of intense cherries and violets overlapping powerful mulberry and that traditional Hunter character of forest floor and earth.

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.

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

Bimbadgen Ridge Shiraz Cabernet Merlot is a medium bodied wine that combines the firm fruity characters of Shiraz with the length and finish of Cabernet and soft fleshy Merlot.

David Hook's Shiraz is medium bodied, some vibrant characters of spicy red berries and soft rounding tannins with hints of vanilla oak on the palate. Ripe fruits richness with a lengthy finish. A great number to have handy when friends drop by.

Audrey Wilkinsons Merlot is a mellow, easy approaching style that is packed with ripe plum aromas and subtle oak. It is matured in French and American oak for 18 months, giving the wine soft tannins and a flavoursome finish.