Wynns 'Red Stripe' Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot continues to be a market leader and beacon for quality wine at an affordable price. Cabernet brings cassis and mint, while spice and plummy fruit is provided by the Shiraz and Merlot. Drink now or cellar for a year or two.

From the highly regarded wine making team at Pierro comes this more than worthy second label. Expressive red berry characters on the nose are intermingled with nuances of blood plum, and on the palate these flavours are underpinned by subtle oak.

Established in 1982 and run by second generation Ed Tomlinson, this fruit driven, medium bodied wine has notes of ripe black fruits and finishes with perfect length and a wonderful texture.

Merlot has become popular because it offers a softness of texture while still providing ripe, plummy flavours. Wolf Blass come to the party here with an an easy drinking, fruity style of dry red.

Award winning wines have been the modus operandi for the Tate family since the mid-70s. That pedigree and know-how can be tasted in this bottle of hand crafted Margaret River Cabernet Merlot. Regional notes of bay leaf, eucalypt and dry, tannins are supported by a lush and vibrant blue and black fruit backbone that continues on the palate for what seems like a lifetime. Absolutely delicious.

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.

The warm even climate of the Murphy family's Trentham vineyard is ideally suited to producing rich softly textured Merlot with toasty oak and berry flavours - great with lamb!

Restrained red fruit with a background of menthol, leather and tobacco on the nose leads to a big mouthful of cherries, vanilla and plums with good intensity. A nicely balanced wine, drinking very well.

Yalumba Y Series Merlot is soft and supple, with sweet, ripe fruit flavours and a hint of liquorice or anise. Merlot is an excellent alternative to the heavier and more tannic red varieties.

George Wyndham was one of the founding fathers of the Australian wine industry after planting the first commercial vineyard in 1830. Wine like this Cabernet Merlot pay tribute to George with its rich blackcurrant and cassis flavours, complemented by plum flavours and soft tannins. A great match with a variety of red meat and game dishes, Mediterranean cuisine and cheese.