Colour Elderberry, deep and clear at the centre with a cool edge. Bouquet Ripe raspberries, dried herbs, red plums. Cranberry and warm spice. Bay leaf and orange rind lend a fresh, mediterranean edge to the enticingly sweet bouquet. Palate Raspberry coulis and blood orange fill a palate that is vibrant and piquant to its core. Chalk and graphite; energy and tension are enveloped in sandy tannins. A wine with boundless verve, energy and electric personality.

Grenache is enjoying a well-deserved moment, with a new generation of talented Aussie winemakers delivering deliciously fresh, approachable wines. This McLaren Vale Grenache is a superb example, from the exciting small-batch project Marsc Wine Co. Bringing acclaimed winemakers and prestige vineyards together covertly under a ‘masked’ label, they’re able to deliver great quality wines for brilliantly low prices. We can’t reveal who made this Grenache, but we can say that they have picked up some of Australia’s highest winemaking honours – namely, TWO Bushing Kings and a Jimmy Watson.

One of the few straight varietals in Australia (Petit Verdot is usually blended with other Bordeaux varieties), the nose displays violets, briary blackberry and a hint of cedar. The palate reveals concentrated spicy plum, cherry and mulberry flavours. Will cellar well.

Some would say McLaren Vale is the spiritual home of Australian Grenache. We are not about to start arguing when Grenache like this one from Chapel Hill are produced. Generous rich red fruits with smattering of dried herbs and a fleshy mid-palate. There is real concentration and complexity to this wine.

Kay Brothers Basket Pressed Shiraz has a rich and complex bouquet that promises something special and it certainly delivers. The palate is laden with generous plum, blackberry and spice and the length is exceptional. This one is a keeper! More to the savoury side of Shiraz, it is about texture more than just fruit.

Kay Brothers from McLaren Vale tread that delightful line between tradition and innovation perfectly. A rich and deep history in the region has seen them settle on some of best vineyard land in the region which helps produce juicy, pleasure-filled wines like this Basket Pressed Grenache. Lifted colours of purple and dark crimson in the glass give a preview to the layers of brambly fruit on the nose. Copious amounts of plush redcurrants and raspberry on the palate with a silken mouthfeel due to elegant tannin and bright acidity.

The perfect balance between power and elegance is present here in 'The Descendant' Shiraz by III Associates. Lifted perfume of violet and red fruits courtesy of older oak used lets the fruit sing.

A lovely approachable wine from the guys at III Associates. Plum flavours drive the wine with a soft, plush mouth feel and intergrated tannins. Lovely toasty oak is also prevalent with nice blending of the Cabernet fruit.

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.