One of the earliest and most condensed in history thanks largely to a dry and warm growing season. A very wet July was followed by some of the driest spring months on record, led to some great flavour and colour development and the resulting wines are packed with delicious ripe flavours.

Majestic Monastrell (aka Mataro) from marvellous McLaren Vale, made by the reliably amazing Bondar. Seriously, get involved.

Shingleback Red Knot Shiraz has beautiful layers of dark fruits and soft earthy chocolate aromas on the nose. The Subtle savoury oak and chewy fruit tannins gives a nice structure to the wine. This will be a rewarding wine with careful cellaring, ensuring longevity.

Penny's Hill Cracking Black Shiraz continues to be what all McLaren Vale Shiraz should be. Deliciously intense, with all its components looking their best and beautifully synchronised. There's lengthy concentrated blackberry fruit, liquorice and pepper. Superb!

Made by Rose Kentish from Ulithorne at Domaine de la Sangliere, on the south coast of Provence, near Toulon. Vineyard and Vinification are run under organic principals. Pale Salmon-pink hue, a blend of Cinsault and Grenache. Fresh grapefruit with a hint of Rose Petals and red fruits of Strawberries and a long, dry, fresh finish.

Delicate aromas of musk, Turkish delight and rose petals. Palate Light and clean, expressing flavours of cherry and strawberry, with beautifully balanced acidity.

Produced from low yielding, hand harvested vines and made using traditional techniques, D'Arry's Original is a smooth, textured, full bodied red which typifies the generous McLaren style. Always one of those little cellar stars that you can buy up a case or two, hide under the house for a decade and be quietly content that d'Arry's Original will be shining in a decade.

We managed to secure the last stocks of this Trophy and double Gold-medal winning vintage. In the winery: Selected bunches were hand picked in the third week of March and gently crushed into open top fermenters.In the glass: Vibrant, dense red black.On the nose: Appealing mix of super-ripe black fruit with classic mint herbaceousness. On the palate: Excellent balance with a powerful black fruit core cloaked with bright spice and herb and underlying cedary oak.

Church Block first appeared back in 1972 under the watchful eye of Greg Trott who was taken by one of the original vineyards that ran alongside the small Bethany Church, across the road from Wirra Wirra's old ironstone cellars. Over the last 4 decades, Church Block has become one of Australia's favourites with its rich, full-bodied style consisting of swathes of black and blue fruits and a nice, smooth finish that seems to last ever so long for such an affordable red wine.