Jericho Adelaide Hills Tempranillo is an early release, joven (young) style of Tempranillo. A soft extraction process followed by ageing in old french oak for only four months, preserved the soft and aromatic flavours, giving the wine a fresh, juicy and vibrant palate with soft tannins.

The 2 ha El Pison vineyard was planted in 1945 on a gentle sloping site in the shape of an amphitheatre with deep sub-soils. Made entirely from Tempranillo, El Pison is a very rich and intense age-worthy style typically showing great purity of fruit and abundant chalky tannins that benefit from additional cellaring.

In 1991, Tahbilk husband and wife team of winemaker Alister Purbrick and artist Rosa Dal Farra decided to combine their talents to produce a range of alternative varietal wines showcased under Rosas boldest art works. Now widely known and made, these varieties validate the foresight Tahbilk had.

Family owned and operated, Barossa earthworks make its wines from 100% Barossa grapes, grown at small family owned vineyards. Drawing on more than 160 years of local wine knowledge, traditional winemaking methods and minimal processing are used to preserve the purity, integrity, texture and flavour of the wines. Blood red in colour, Earthworks Tempranillo opens with boysenberry, pepper, a hint of charred meats and black forest cake aromas. The soft tannins spread over your palate giving a juicy, ferrous, velvet mouth feel, a must try in our opinion.

Upon much deliberation, our overall masked winner revealed a style and character that provided us with a fairly clear cut insight into the modern day advances of a region etched in history and tradition. Cosme Palacio consistently produces one of our favourite Riojas that always offers incredible value for money. Produced predominantly from Tempranillo grown in cool, relatively high altitude sites, this is modern Rioja that's bright and ready to go thanks to a touch of bottle age. It's medium bodied with fine tannins and juicy in the mouth. Black fruits dominate the flavour profile with some delicate cedar and earthy notes adding complexity to a delicious example from this much loved region.

This excellent Shiraz Grenache Tempranillo is a complex and vibrant wine displaying a deep crimson hue. The bouquet exhibits savoury and ripe berry fruit fragrances, while the rich and full flavoured palate ends in a textural tannin finish.

Sancho Garces pays homage to King Sancho Garcés III el Mayor, king of the Kingdom of Pamplona between 1004 and 1035, who promoted the pilgrimage route of the Camino of Santiago, or Way of St. James, and built hospitals and lodging. Sancho Garces presents aromas of fresh fruit and liquorice. Soft tannins, very well-balanced and easy-drinking.

Just like the noble creature, The Stag wines represent elegance, grace and esteem. Quintessentially Victorian, they are made in a classic cool climate style. On the nose, a little rustic, with savoury spices, red berries, bright cherry and potpourri aromatics. Medium bodied and supple on the palate, with cherry, chocolate and tobacco notes. Tempranillo tannins have a powdery feel about them, leading to a savoury spice finish.