Named after Alfred Pizzini's grandmother, this is a medium bodied Sangiovese - warm and humble just like its namesake. Aromas of lightly spiced plums and cherries lead to hints of chocolate, leather and lovely savoury characters. The palate is generous and full flavoured with good length, soft tannins and flavours of plums and cherries.

The 2010 Chateau d'Issan is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, showing 'classic Margaux' in its perfume, finesse and apparent elegance. Soils are gravel and clay, which contributes to the high-tones of perfume from the wine, and though an estate that is neccesarily clawing its way back to a higher profile, is doing so with deeds in bottle over showmanship. On its side, the vineyard is dense with older vines that naturally offer lower yields, allowing for a higher quality of fruit for the winemaking team, in turn producing a wine of stellar quality from 2010.

One of Australia's signature blends, Shiraz Cabernet has the best of both worlds: Spices and jammy black berries from a Shiraz plus Cabernet's firm tannin structure and ripe blackcurrant aromas. Hand crafted by Ben Riggs in the South Australia, Jip Jip Rocks is family own winery with great value.

From one of Margaret River's best and original producers, Vasse Felix comes this excellent Cabernet Merlot blend has great concentration of blackcurrant fruit with cedary oak and fine tannins - a style with elegance and finesse rather than power.

From the stable of Devils Lair, Fifth Leg is a blend of Cabernet, Shiraz and Merlot that is a soft and supple drink-now style. The quality of the Margaret River fruit gives it flavour which will appeal to the serious red wine drinker as well.

Zonnebloem has a deep and connected relationship with its history which dates back to the 1700s in South Africa. With the knowledge that great wine takes great time, Zonnebloeum hand craft a truly exceptional example of Cabernet Sauvignon here that is overflowing with aromas of thyme, cassis and dark cherry. A lively palate follows that has exceptional tannin structure and nice, long finish.

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.

Tyrrell's Vat 8 is the archetypal blend of tradition and modernity. With a strong history in both the Hunter Valley and Hilltops regions, Tyrrell's are able to showcase the very best in modern Australian winemaking. The Vat 8 consists of a majority Hunter Valley Shiraz the lends beauty, flavour and ripeness and a small parcel of Hilltops Cabernet which supports the Shiraz with power and structure. Elegant and pristine early, this is a wine that will enjoy some time in the cellar to further develop it already obvious complexity.

Pepper Tree have quickly established themselves as one of the showcases of not only the Hunter Valley region, but the other three regions where they source premium fruit from; Orange, Wrattonbully and Coonawarra. Award winning winemaker, Jim Chatto is at the helm of this progressive winery and here he produces a Cabernet Sauvignon of upmost class and complexity. A nice nose of cassis and dark berries with a hint of oak, ripe rich fruit that fills the mouth with blackcurrants and soft tannins.

Fred Pizzini grew up in Italy and is bringing the taste of his homeland to the Australian dining table. His Sangiovese is one of the best examples in the country, with spicy, savoury fruit hiding a vein of mouth watering acid that is a hallmark of the variety. Delicious now - and will get better with bottle age!