CRAGGY RANGE WINERY Sophia Cabernet Blend, Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay. Cepage includes Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabnernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

In the winery: Matured for 20 months in new French barriques, Hungarian, French and American hogsheads. In the glass: Inky dark red. On the nose: Ripe dark fruit, a hint of mint, toasty oak and cedary development.On the palate: Intense black fruit power melding well with deluxe mocha oak a rich, dense and complex reserve style with tight, grainy tannins and spicy acidity.

Geoff Merrill Henley Shiraz shows a deep brick red colour lined by cherry red hues. A whiff of the wine reveals generous scents of berry fruits and toasty French oak. Ripe fruit flavours combine with fine and powerful tannins on the full flavoured palate, to provide an elegant structure. This delightful Shiraz ends in a captivating finale. It tastes marvellous with lamb shanks in a red wine jus, chocolate-dipped honeycomb, and sharp Cheddar cheese.

Founded more than 150 years ago, Yeringberg is both a pioneer and enduring icon of the Yarra Valley. Fourth-generation winemaker Sandra de Pury views her art as the perfect combination of intellectual, physical and sensory engagement, and shes continuing to scale new heights with the wines. This effortlessly restrained Cabernet blend is the estates flagship red, and has won the trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon at the Yarra Valley Wine Show for the past three out of four vintages. Its complex yet pure, from blood plums, violets and cassis to cigars, tapenade and Christmas cake. Its serious yet seamlessly structured. This beauty will be sitting pretty for 20 years.