For over 20 years, John Quarisa has worked as a winemaker for some of the most recognisable wineries in Australia. During his time at Casella, he was instrumental in securing them the prestigious Jimmy Watson Trophy in 2004. John has since branched out to create a range of wines that bear his family name. This particular range, named after his wife Josephine Quarisa, features this outstanding Coonawarra Cabernet, which over a couple of vintages has picked up several Golds. This one has two, something Mrs Q must be stoked about.

The wine displays a complex aroma of lifted violets, red berries and mint with lovely cedary oak. The palate is brimming with rich plums, blackberries and subtle chocolate and earthy notes. The intense flavour is balanced by fine sandy tannins and spicy vanillin oak.

Inviting and complex aromatics welcome you into this wine; brambly, leafy notes backed up by deep dark fruit with subtle spice and char interplay on the nose. There is a deceptive density to this wine's aroma that hints at what lies beyond. The 2016 release builds on that breakthrough style - the wine shows plush generosity but there is a layering of flavours and complexity to this vintage that invites not just a second but third look. Generous, accessible primary fruit sits pretty up front but let the wine breathe and suddenly these dry, fine and lightly chewy tannins build on the back palate, lending a savoury edge to the dark fruit finish of this baby.

Bleasdale is “one of the most historic wineries in Australia ... in 2015 celebrating 165 years of continuous winemaking by the direct descendants of the founding Potts family.” (James Halliday). Last year, winemaker Paul Hotker, a “master blender” , was named Halliday’s Winemaker of the Year. This “clever” 96pt blend shows his skill and style. “Clever cabernet-dominant blend incorporating malbec, franc, merlot and petit verdot to great effect. Red and black fruited, leafy cabernet, fine savoury tannins, line and length to burn. Gold at the National Wine Show ‘17 speaks volumes ... 96pts” (Halliday).

Coonawarra is a very special place. It doesn’t share the relentless dry heat of the Adelaide summer, being much more temperate. It also has the excellent free-draining terra rossa soils that make it perfect for grape-growing. The resulting wines show incredible richness, flavour, structure and complexity - as you'll taste with the mighty Bentwing Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet here. It's a terrific partner to a lamb roast.

Traditional open fermentation was employed followed by maturation in French oak barriques for 20 months, prior to bottling. The wine displays a lifted aromatics of black fruits and violets, along with some cedary oak nuances. The concentrated palate has a lovely silky texture, showing chocolate and cassis flavours and a wonderfully long finish.