The Malleea (an aboriginal word for 'green paddock') is a very fine exapmle of the classic Australian Cabernet/Shiraz blend. The 2008 is rich, dark magenta in colour, with ripe plums, spice and vanillin oak on the nose. The palate is like a complex fruit cake with layers of fresh berries, black olives and hints of chocolate.

The vintage gods smiled ever so well on the majority of the vineyard area of South Australia during the 2008 vintage and the result are wines like this little beauty from Jamiesons Run. A brilliant wine of richness and sweetness upon release, time in our climate controlled cellars has amplified those secondary characters of herb, cedar and mocha to deliver a perfectly balanced, and affordable cellared wine.

Mildara first released wines in the late 1800's and was one of the earliest pioneers of the Coonawarra region in the 1950's. One of the most exciting wines in Dan's Cellar Release program, the 2004 Rothwell Cabernet is a wine of fierce structure, elegant balance and sheer drinkability. Classic blackcurrant, minty, toasty oak, medium bodied with a juicy pastille richness and firm tannins. Superb right now, it will evolve over many years to come.

Katnook are synonymous with premium quality Cabernet from Coonawarra and this brilliant wine stands up against any great Cabernet in the world. Aged for 35 month in French oak, the aromas and flavours of dark berries and spicy plum are beautifully interwoven with mulberry. Will age for 10 - 20 years with ease.

Medium bodied with the plush dark berry fruit framed by fine grained tannins to give a long and persistent finish.

2006 Patrick of Coonawarra Home Block Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes were grown at the Toccaciu Coonawarra estate, and the wine was matured for 26 months in French and American oak; while I am not a fan of ProCork, this is a very attractive wine, which has cruised through six, rising seven, years, the cassis and cedar flavours supported by very fine but persistent tannins.

The Parker Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is made in a riper, more generous style to its peers, yet with enough restraint to display the distinct varietal and regional characteristics. Offerings of ripe blackberry and damson plums, wafts of warm earth, iodine, mint and black olives. The palate shows a lot of restraint and freshness, fuller bodied not big though with determined tannins. A solid performer not just a backup singer.

The Mythology Cabernet Sauvignon is a tribute to ancient practices, with its own origin embedded in the richness of the Coonawarra soils and the artistry of traditional winemaking techniques. Dense dark fruits with brilliantly aromatics of raspberries and plums, dark chocolate and vanilla bean. Full bodied with lovely tannins, complemented by well-balanced French oak and a wonderfully long structured finish.

Jacaranda Ridge Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, always exhibiting its Coonawarra provenance in the form of regional aromas and flavours, the intensity of the fruit produced by this location is exceptional for the region. Showcasing traditional regional characters of fine tannin and blackberry leaf, but also a darker, brooding quality unique to the vineyard from which the grapes were sourced. The balance and poise of this wine, along with the ample cassis and dark berry fruit flavour, will see this age well for decades to come.