Deep yet bright mulberry purple in colour, this Hunter Cabernet – Merlot is a charmer. The aromas show loads of energy, with 80% Cabernet Sauvignon providing fresh florality, opening with briarberry and raspberry. These perfumes open out to deeper signatures of crème cassis and mint, plus subtle background support of vanilla and menthol from fine French oak. Cabernet is supreme on the palate too, delivering long, focussed flavours of raspberry and cranberry with hints of olive. 20% Merlot contributes roundness and depth throughout, with spiced plum silkiness that adds body and softness onto the finish. Tannins are powder-soft, showing the plush satin-like harmony of deluxe French barrel. This elegantly structured blend is definitely a keeper, and will take several years of cellaring to open out. Decanting is ideal if drinking earlier.

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.

Lifted ripe plums and a red berry fruit notes complimented by hints of clove and vanilla bean spices. The palate has a supple fruit core of juicy dark plum and bright red berry fruit notes dominate, held together by fine grained tannins across the mid palate with a lovely acid line. Evans & Tate

This wine is a celebration of Grant Burge as a 5th generation Barossa vigneron. This rich Cabernet Merlot has concentrated redcurrant and dark plum flavours, supported by fine tannins and spicy oak. The refined structure of this wine makes it a great match with a wide range of dishes including barbequed meats and hearty tomato dishes.

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 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.

Château Gloria is the lifes work of Henri Martin, who's Cabernet based wines are very individualistic. The Château has never joined the Syndicat des Crus Bourgeois. This allows Henri to be a little more creative and produce wines of great concentration for prices that are easily approachable. The 2008 is a great example of the Château Gloria style and has been rated 90 points by Robert Parker Jnr.

This Cabernet Merlot exhibits ripe cassis, dark chocolate and licorice aromas. High notes of cedary oak and bay leaf add further complexity. The palate unfolds in a myriad of layers of ripe blackcurrant and red fruit interwoven with savoury oak. The long and flavoursome finish is well supported by dry and fine grained tannins.

This De Bortoli Cabernet Merlot blend combines rich, dark berry from the Cabernet's flavour with soft, plumy Merlot. An ideal accompaniment to pasta, veal or pork.

Always regarded as one of Margaret River's favourite wineries due to the inherant quality. Forester Estate seems to marry beautifully with their value-for-money philosophy. This Cabernet Merlot continues to win wide acclaim due to its dark purple colour and its lifted aromas of raspberries and black forest cake. Rich berry flavours are well balanced by a tight tannin structure typical of quality Margaret River Cabernets. The other great bonus is the ability of this great Cab blend to morph into a true cellar star.