Nine Lives Stone Wall Shiraz 2021 is deep purple in hue with aromas of dark fruits, plum, blackberry, and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg spice. The palate leads with generous flavours of blackberry and satsuma plum, alongside spice, toasty oak and graphite. The palate is framed by fine silky tannins and persistent fruit length.

This incredibly intense wine displays grapefruit and gooseberry at the fore. These flavours linger through the textural midpalate before a long, dry zippy citrus finish

The Pike brothers established Pikes winery in the Polish Hill sub-region of the Clare Valley in 1984, renovating an old stone shearing shed to house their winery and cellar door. Neil is the veteran winemaker (he’s done 38 vintages in Clare); Andrew the seasoned viticulturist (he spent 22 years working for big names like Wynn’s Coonawarra and Southcorp before establishing Pikes). Together they turn out formidable wines that earn plenty of show medals and critical acclaim. Their richly textured 2017 'Wilfred's Block' really is magnificent. A definitive Australian blend of inky, slatey Cabernet and sumptuous, spicy Shiraz, it’s a contemplative wine – the layers of flavour will reveal themselves slowly – and perfect for winter sipping. It will cellar well until 2032, but is still drinking beautifully now. Decant, pour into big glasses, and savour with good food and good friends.

This limited-edition label, inspired by Taylors Wines very first release, celebrates both the heritage and the commitment of three generations of the Taylor family's dedication to making fine Australian wine. This wine shows ample varietal blackcurrant flavour seasoned with some attractive sweet oak. The tannins are firm but nicely in balance.

COMMUNE OF BUTTONS Gloria Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills Commune of Buttons began with a single dream between brother and sister, to continue as second-generation growers of grapes. This is a distinctive Pinot from the much-loved Commune of Buttons. The Gloria vineyard is 1Ha of 25-year-old dry-grown Pinot vines planted in clay and sandstone soils rich in ironstone, quartz and basalt. With flavours of cassis, fresh grape juice, a lick of plum, and just a hint of cherry.

Pompette is Jasper Button’s idea of the perfect bistro red - bright, fresh, and dangerously easy to drink. The name means “pleasantly tipsy” in French, which feels pretty spot on once you’ve had a glass or two. It’s mostly Syrah from the Kas Sluiter Vineyard in Mylor, with a splash of Pinot Noir from Piccadilly to bring some crunch and lift. The fruit was hand-picked, destemmed and naturally fermented, then left to rest in fibreglass tanks for ten months. No oak, just clean, pure fruit and a heap of charm built for drinking any day of the week. You get juicy dark berries, violets and spice from the Syrah, while the Pinot keeps things bright and energetic. It’s medium-bodied, silky and a little savoury, the kind of red that feels right at home with pizza, pasta or a sunny afternoon picnic.

The trailblazers of the Adelaide Hills have created another outstanding wine. A superb expression of modern cool-climate Shiraz; Shaw & Smith is elegantly spicy and brimming with supple red-fruit flavours matched by fine tannins. An absolute ripper.

Geoff Weaver Sauvignon Blanc from the Adelaide Hills is quite possible the region's best example of this aromatic variety. The bouquet shows lifted varietal characters of green pea and passionfruit and the palate is textured and long.