The nose is teeming with red fruits and florals.Raspberry and cherry with a hint rose and violet. The true giveaways to the vintage however, lie in the distinct white pepper and spice notes. The palate follows suit with bright red fruit and spice.

Guigal Côtes du Rhône has always been the beacon for quality in the southern Rhône. This is one Grenache blend you must get your hands on. An attractive nose of cinnamon, liquorice and wild herbs, the palate is medium-bodied and balanced with a spicy savoury mid-palate and clean finish.

Spinifex Esprit is a Grenache Mataro blend that has a vibrant, youthful and fresh palate driven by a tangy herb infused line of red fruit red currant, sour red plum, pomegranate and marjoram that gains warmth and depth turning to tobacco, game, cedar and darker fruit to close. Pulpy, fleshy fruit is drawn long with plum skin acids and stony tannins.

As the custodian of some of the world's oldest Grenache vines, Marco Cirillo has been called the guru of Grenache! The 1850s Grenache, as the name suggests, has fruit that comes from vines that date back over 160 years. Truly remarkable flavours of red fruit, earth and leather notes. An old world feel comes from a glass of this new world Grenache.

The now much sought after Righteous range of wines from Kym Teusner was first established in 2005 with the Grenache and this is the latest incarnation of this foreboding Barossa wine. Sourced from an 80 year old bush-vine vineyard, the Righteous Grenache was gently crushed and fermented in open fermenters with regular pump-overs. Maturation was completed in a mix of French and American oak and has resulted in a modern classic Grenache.

William Downie is young Australian Pinot Noir royalty. Learning his trade in the vineyards of Burgundy, Bill came back to Australia and set up his own label in Victoria's east, specifically in Gippsland. His wines are extremely limited in nature and Pinot lovers shouldn't waste any time in adding some William Downie to their cellars. The Gippsland Pinot Noir is wonderfully balanced with blackcurrant, blackberry and hints of clove and nutmeg. Beautifully dense and concentrated on the palate, lifted violets and florals shine through along with the inextricably long finish.

Old vine Grenache, Shiraz and Mataró combine in this Barossa red. Aromas of raspberry, dried herbs and floral notes introduce juicy berry flavours on the palate framed by fine tannins. [biodynamic]

Michel Chapoutier continues to produce wines of unbelievable value and his Cotes du Rhône is the leader of the pack. For under $20, medium bodied reds don't get better than this.

Juveniles is a unoaked blend produced from old vines. Fragrant intense and concentrated it has flavours of blackberry, earth and Asian spices. The length and texture make this great drinking now.

BODEGAS ALTO MONCAYO Garnacha, Campo de Borja Winemaker: Chris Ringland.