CLARENDON HILLS Brookman Vineyard Merlot, McLaren Vale Clarendon Hills’ Brookman Vineyard is among the highest in McLaren Vale, 250m higher and 10km north-east of the McLaren Vale township. The vines were planted on clay soils in the late 1960s and are dry-grown. Grapes are hand-picked 2-3 weeks later than on the flats, following a long, mild and generally consistent ripening period. Fermentation as whole berries, using wild yeasts, precedes 18 months maturation in tight-grained French Oak, 85% new, the rest between one and four years old. The final wine is a barrel selection. Brookman Merlot is noted for mulberry and blackcurrant fruit, spice and Christmas cake aromas, opulence, richness of flavour and softness with finely balanced tannins.

Grenache in all its glory. Red fruits proudly lead the charge: raspberries, cranberries and pomegranate. Fragrant coulis on a summer berry pudding. Ferric notes of steel wool and cordite allude to the iron-rich clay soil upon which the vines prosper in the Barossa Valley. Charcuterie aromas of Jamón ibérico and Mojama dry cured tuna notes add an interesting slightly saline nuance. Rubbed olive leaves, sumac spice and ginger peel aromas round out a very enticing nose. Disclaimer: Product may have a cork or screwcap closure

An authentic Pinot Grigio from the home of the variety in northern Italy, Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is pale straw-yellow in colour with a clean, intense aroma and dry flavour with pleasant golden apple aftertaste. It is a Pinot Grigio of great character and versatility.

Penfolds' Block 42 vineyard is one of the most historic Cabernet vineyards in the world. Planted only 30 years after the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, Block 42 has the oldest plantings in the world that have continuously produced Cabernet Sauvignon. This unique history is harnessed by Peter Gago in the 2004 Block 42 Kalimna Cabernet that has produced a beautifully aromatic, perfectly balanced and ripe Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit simply explodes across the palate, giving tremendous depth and length of flavour. While young, plush and full-bodied today, the Block 42 has many years of ageing ahead of it and will be comfortable in your cellar well into the 2020s.

The formidable fortress depicted on the famed vanilla Latour label was built to withstand the Gironde pirate attacks of the 15th Century. And, truly, as well as the tower still stands, so does Latour and its consistent excellence regardless of vintage. Nominally Pauillac, this First Growth sits almost astride the border of St. Julien and its output as one would expect is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with 10 per cent awarded to both Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Any experience with Latour is to be savoured with patience this notoriously slow-developing wine requires at least a decade or twos development. But the reward for this patience is a fulsome melange of power, finesse, depth and tone.

One of the longest-lived white wines in France, the extremely rare M.Chapoutier Ermitage de lOrée is a single varietal Marsanne sourced from a single vineyard Murets plot at the eastern edge of the Hill of Hermitage. Orée means edge in French and is also a reference to the colour of the wine as or in French means gold. Rich, full-bodied and immensely complex, Ermitage de lOrée has the structure and concentration to age often well beyond 50 years.

This is a stylish village wine from the 0.645 ha parcel of the En la rue de Vergy vineyard in the commune of Morey-Saint-Denis. Located just above the les Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru vineyard, this plot is truly remarkable for the soil is non-existent. Instead the vines are planted directly on the calcareous bedrock where they have over the years, established extremely deep roots in order to seek out water and nutrients. Typically wines from this parcel are round and silky with more upfront fruit and moderate acidity.

The rich and full-bodied Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon, named after a neighbouring road, is based on "parent of the Reynell Clone" material, renowned for its low yield, violet blackcurrant aromas and naturally high acidity. This is a classic "best-of-vintage" Australian-style Cabernet Sauvignon, with a great reputation for aging. Typically it shows intense mulberry, violet, cedar aromas with rich cassis, plum, dark chocolate flavours, muscular tannins and underlying savoury oak. After vinification in headed-down open fermenters, fermentation is completed in barrel. 18 months maturation in new and old French oak follows. Older wines may show a touch of earthy, sage, mint characters.