Big, beautiful and bold - the wines from Bowen Estate have a huge following. Loaded with cedary and blackberry flavours and firm in structure this wine will reward patient cellaring.

Deep garnet with aromas of blackcurrant, cedar and graphite. The palate is rich and structured, showing concentrated cassis, dark chocolate and fine-grained tannins. Elegant and powerful, it finishes long with classic Coonawarra mint and oak spice.

Is a cracker, but an idiosyncratic wine; much in the same way as Bordeaux’s Château Tertre Roteboeuf. It’s the type of claret style that would win a prize in the Australian Burgundy classes of yore. Voluminous and inky deep, it show lifted cassis, cedar, dried apricot, hint wood varnish aromas and flavours, fine supple/slinky texturesand well-integrated roasted chestnut notes. This is a terrific ‘vin de garde’ with all the elements for long term ageing. A high water mark for Terre à Terre.

A full bodied, intense red with blackcurrant, cedar, and white pepper flavours. Elegant, fine grained tannin gives this wine good potential to age. Excellent with roast meats or BBQ steak.

When it comes to Australian Merlot, Katnook is among the very best. Lovely plum dark berry and cedary cigar box characters slip seamlessly into a finish that seems everlasting. Aged for 22 months in French oak, the swathes of blackcurrant are a delight to the senses.

Nugan Estate Alcira Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is classic Coonawarra all the way. Smells of mint and blackcurrant, tastes of cassis and mocha. Over two years in wood, and time in bottle soften the tannins leaving just a gentle grip. A bargain at this price!

Katnook is a beacon for quality in Coonawarra for many a decade. Their Cabernet is their flagship that has a rich and elegant bouquet with aromas of cedary blackcurrant. Supported by well integrated toasty oak while the palate shows long fine varietal flavours.

Never forget the teeth. Especially with a good cabernet like this. You’ve got 36 gleaming ivory sensors to swirl the flavours around. To thresh the tannins against like waves on rocks. To chew the chewiness and know it’s real. Swirling, filtering, rewinding the tape over the playback heads in the back. And letting it all go, bar the mouth-filling echo that lingers just long enough to make you second-guess. And have some more.