Houghton Gladstones Cabernet Sauvignon is a wonderful example of well established wineries in the Western Australian wine scene with access to some amazing vineyards sites within the Margaret River. On show here are marvelous aromas and flavours of bay leaf, black tea and some spicy mocha notes. Excitingly dense on palate with harmonious oak balance and impressive acidity. A brilliant wine.

Made from low yielding vineyards at Moonambel in the Pyreness district of central Victoria, Dalwhinnie is an example of how good Victorian Shiraz can be. Tremendous depth of flavour running the gammet from red currants to dark plums, spice and mineral. The plentiful tannins are absorbed by the fruit and the finish is long and lingering.

Tuck into an opulent McLaren Vale Shiraz Cab brimming with classic regional richness, class and complexity from the perfectly-sited vineyards of Dowie Doole, now in the confident and skilled hands of winemaker Chris Thomas. Enjoy rich plummy Shiraz showing classic McLaren Vale generosity and complexity, balanced by firm, fine grained tannins and savoury Cabernet backbone. Notes of dark fruit, hints of cassis, bay leaf, coffee bean and liquorice carry through to a long luxurious finish. Founders Drew Dowie and Norm Doole, both visionary and passionate about sustainability, have always been nuts about McLaren Vale geology – the sandy soils of Blewitt Springs and the ancient rocks of Tatachilla in particular. They paired up to form DOWIE DOOLE in 1995, and then, in 2015, sold it to their chief winemaker and fellow devotee Chris Thomas, who has worked at many top wineries including Fox Creek and Serafino Wines in McLaren Vale – as well as in Burgundy, France. Norm and Drew own neighbouring estates, one in each locale mentioned above, and both have sold one of their premium vineyards to ‘DD’ in order to boost its overall potential. Norm Doole’s California Road vineyard and Drew Dowie’s Tintookie vineyard at Blewitt Springs.

Perfectly suited to the caterer, Brown Brothers 10L Dry Red is great value.

Subtle threads of violets, cherry blossom and fresh juniper berries serve as highlights to an ample tapestry of black plums, cacao nib and ironstone. Sheer textures of crushed granite and black cherry skin are laced with porcelain tannin and quenching natural acidity.

Juniper Estate’s Cornerstone Cabernet is a benchmark expression of Wilyabrup, crafted from vines planted on free-draining gravelly soils at the heart of Margaret River. The vineyard’s coastal influence brings cool nights and warm days, producing fruit with natural balance and structure. Each parcel is fermented separately before undergoing extended maceration to build depth and complexity. The wine then matures in French oak barriques, with a careful balance of new and seasoned barrels, allowing the character of the site to shine. Cornerstone Cabernet consistently offers aromas of blackcurrant, plum, and dried herbs, alongside subtle cedar and tobacco notes from its time in oak. The palate is defined by fine, persistent tannins and layers of dark fruit, supported by bright acidity. Built for cellaring, this is a wine that will develop gracefully, revealing greater nuance and harmony over the years while remaining true to its Margaret River origins.

Farnese Edizione gives a very deep garnet red colour. The nose is intense and persistent with notes of cherry and blackcurrant, herbs, cinnamon, cloves, cocoa, liquorice and hints of mineral. The palate has great structure, good balance between alcohol and freshness, velvety tannins, very persistent with a long finish, ready to drink, or can be put in the cellar for a few years.

The Yarra Yering Pinot Noir is produced from what are amongst the oldest Pinot Noir vines in the Yarra Valley. Always aristocratic, fragrant with intense aromas of sweet strawberry and ripe plums, the Yarra Yering Pinot rounds out with mouthfilling notes of the same with a length hard to ignore.