One of the Margaret River's more celebrated producers, Howard Park have forged a healthy cult following. The 2001 Cabernet Blend is a full bodied red that has developed liquorice and humidor characters beneath a layers of concentrated blackberry.

Ruby red with purple hues, with a bouquet of cherries, plums and subtle spice. The wine displays lovely rich, soft berry flavours with hints of cinnamon and vanillin oak.

Dollar for dollar, wines such as this truly are remarkable value. Soft, round with flavours of ripe plums, blackcurrant and a finely grained mouthfeel.

The 2008 release of this took out the prestigious tri-nations award. The 2009 from a stronger vintage looks even better. A classicist?s Merlot; plum and cassis supported by fine tannin.

A medium bodied wine with aromas of dark fruits and understated oak. A generous palate showing vibrant, rich fruit flavours and soft mouth-coating tannins.

Intense yet elegant. A clean, precise and powerful expression of dark berry fruits, fine tannins and intergrated oak.

Classic Margaret River nose of cassis, mulberries and capsicum. Fermentation and development in French and American oak, gives this wine a delicious mouthful of sweet fruit with notes of chocolate, cedar and plums.

The high altitude Orange region is producing some outstanding Merlot and this release, made by Debbie Lauritz, is a great example. Aromas of dried herb and currant are supported with sweet fruit flavours.

Pete Bissell from Balnaves consistently produces Cabernet of highest order and this little beauty that falls under the $20 mark is just perfect as a cellar starter. Gentle mintiness on the nose. Dusty tannins frame a fantastic medium weighted structured wine. Lovely fruit intensity terrific with BBQ lamb or all on its own.

Petaluma Merlot is medium body with a brick red colour, the superbly perfumed bouquet is a tangle of marzipan, spice, plum and confectionery and is the best nose of the early Petalumas. On the palate, flavours of cherry, plum and spice emerge, with very good depth and complexity.