The typical Margaret River Cabernet characters of red berries and leafiness are neatly balanced with the softer, plummy notes of Merlot.

McGuigan provides a luscious and smooth drinking Cabernet Merlot here with nice concentration from the Cabernet Sauvignon balanced well with smooth, silky Merlot. Plums and blackcurrants cover the palate complimented by a silky finish.

This wine is classic Coonawarra in style with ripe berry and cassis aromas and flavours layered over fine tannins. Cabernet is the major component and backbone with Merlot adding softness and drinkability.

Rich purple/red with a vibrant purple rim. Distinctly Margaret River; driven by aromas of blackberry, plum, bay leaf and a touch of black olive. The Merlot and Malbec add texture, balance, length and a luxurious fragrance to create a seamless and unique red. A dry, warm season was punctuated with a tropical rain event in January. This pushed back harvest and allowed for better balance during ripening. The resultant fruit had wonderful thick skins, incredible concentration and excellent varietal identity. The Cabernet was harvested late-morning, to ensure the fruit reached the winery warm to ensure a healthy, even fermentation. The Merlot and Malbec fruit was harvested during the cool of the early morning so it could be cold soaked on skins for 5 days prior to fermentation. The selectively harvested fruit was fermented over 10 days, with the Merlot and Malbec undergoing partial wild fermentation. The Cabernet remained on skins for 20 days to ensure a beautiful, vibrant colour. All elements were then matured in French oak for up to 15 months. Each individual barrel was assessed to determine which were included in the final blend.

Ripe and generous, the leafy, minty characters of Cabernet are complemented by the softness and plummy fruit coming from the Merlot. A nice touch of sweet oak completes the picture.

The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for this wine is sourced from the Cookoothama Vineyard on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River at Darlington Point in the Riverina. Deep red in appearance with a youthful purple hue. Aromas of plum and blackberry, infused with hints of spice, herbs and dark chocolate. Concentrated flavours of red berry fruits, mocha and spice with ripe silky tannin and well integrated oak.

The Arrogant Frog Ribet Red Cabernet Merlot from the South-West of France is a juicy, easy drinking style with soft tannins on the finish. Jean-Claude Mas has crafted the perfect red to enjoy with grilled lamb chops from the BBQ or many pasta dishes.

Regarded by many as a candidate for wine of the 2009 Bordeaux vintage. A huge accolade indeed for La Mission Haut-Brion considering the quite phenomenal wines being released. The 2009 can boast a colour that is almost impenetrable and a exciting bouquet of blackberry, truffles and spicy earth. The concentration of the palate is something to behold itself. A vinosity that is hard to find elsewhere, the flavours in the mouth follow on from the nose in nice order, yet the sheer power of the wine quite extraordinary. Layers of flavours continue throughout the palate and continue well into its length. Will no doubt be in short supply as all clamour to get a piece of this Bordeaux masterpiece.

Howard Park are Western Australia's largest family-owned winery whose reputation is unsurpassed. Their Madfish range of wines continue to provide great value-for-money while still offering that Western Australian quality we've all come to enjoy. The Cabernet Merlot has a luscious smooth ripe flavour profile without being sweet with regional notes of black olives and eucalypt.