Andrew McPherson has a well-deserved reputation for being a great brilliant technical innovator and made wine all over the world before settling back in Australia. He was chief winemaker for many years, but that honour now belongs to Jo Nash. Wild Daisy is as lively as its pretty label – Cabernet with a portion of cherry-fresh, Italian inspired Sangiovese, so what you enjoy is an Aussie version of one of Italy’s pricey, ‘super Tuscans’. It’s a delicious drop, a top choice at a barbecue, with pizza or pasta. Great solo too.

Cape Jaffa was a pioneer both in the Mt Benson region and in terms of its focus on biocynamics and sustainability. The first of the Mount Benson wineries,Cape Jaffa’s fully certified biodynamic vineyard provides 50% of production, with additional fruit sourced from a certified biodynamic grower in Wrattonbully. This is a lovely drop for warmer weather. As Shanteh Wale says in The Halliday Wine Companion, this is “made for drinking and good times. Serve slightly chilled" but it is not without complexity. "Blackberries, prune, plums and thistle. Picked oregano, margoram and green olive.”

This Single Vineyard Malbec from 5-star-rated Hungerford Hill’s talented Bryan Currie is “Ripe, plush, weighty and inviting with fabulous fruit concentration" It boasts: "... Dark berry fruit plus scented red rose petals and a hint of musk." (Toni Paterson, The Halliday Wine Companion).

The Limestone Coast region encompasses some of Australia's most revered viticultural land and, without fail, produces reds with both voluptuous fruit and great structure. This Gold medal-winning 2024 vintage is no exception, showing off immense power and concentration. The Ravensthorpe Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon brings together flavours of cassis, blackberry and a hint of the region's eucalypts with well-integrated toasty oak characters. A great wine to share with a hearty meal, and with careful cellaring it will continue to improve over the next 4-6 years.

Located in High Eden, a sub-region of the Barossa, approximately 550 metres above sea level, Mountadam was originally established in 1972 by the late David Wynn for his winemaking son Adam. Since 2005, it has returned to being a family owned and run winery, with David and Jenni Brown overseeing its success. The wine is named after David’s father, Milton Brown. Traditionally known as the best Cabernet or Cabernet blend from the Estate the 2021 vintage saw this wine as a straight Cabernet Sauvignon due to the high quality of a single block. “Deep crimson and packed with bramble-edged blackberry, blackcurrant and black cherry fruits. Hints of brown spice, violets, briar, licorice, cedar, sage and vanilla bean. There's a lovely density with great tension between that High Eden mineral line and the ripe black fruits with fine, granite-dust tannins... that fruit weight is impressive. 95pts. Great Value.” (Dave Brookes, The Halliday Wine Companion)."

You'll love this 93pt Clare Cabernet from the excellent Pikes. “Easy drinking, charming and fresh-feeling cabernet sauvignon that delivers good, true cassis, black cherry, green olive and gum leaf notes all dusted with clove and pepper. Nicely done. Good sense of vitality and graphite tannins tighten the wine gently, but with refreshment factor in tow. A cracking drink for the bucks. 93pts. Great Value” (Mike Bennie, The Halliday Wine Companion). Sam Kim Wine Orbit adds that it's a "...lovely expression of the variety" with "fragrant bouquet... good weight and fine flow...92pts."