Over three generations the Barry name has been famous throughout the wine world and synonymous with the Clare Valley. A founding member of Australia’s First Families of Wine, the Barry family celebrated the 60th anniversary of its winery in 2020, the year it also scooped the title of Halliday’s ‘Winery of the Year’. Jim Barry bought his first vineyard here in 1959, and even helped the Taylor family open their winery a decade later. Son Peter took over Jim Barry in 1985, and today brothers Tom and Sam, with sister Olivia, have raised the bar even higher. Enjoy a new Jim Barry exclusive, an absolutely delicious Single Vineyard Grenache. The grape has become the hottest thing in wine in recent years, with a new generation of winemakers create fresh, super approachable modern styles. When Grenache – rare in the Clare Valley – came up in discussion, buyer Ben Cohn, an ardent devotee of the grape, was stoked. The wine was crafted using fruit from the family’s limestone-rich McKay’s vineyard in Watervale – and sings with fresh red fruit and elegant, sandy tannins. It boasts fresh raspberry & spice on nose & palate with bluefruits, plum & orange rind hints. Great length too. Serve it slightly chilled, and it makes a great match with Thai Pork Belly. It’s exquisite. We share it at a special launch price (especially exciting for UNLIMITED members).

With origins in Spain and southern France, where he still regularly distinguishes himself, this impressive figure first set foot here in 1840 and today also calls South Australia home. The Governor General may have been around a while but has an eye to the future. He mixes effortlessly, but is bold enough to stand alone. Possessed of great potential strength and power, he more often displays his lighter side, with seductive charm and finesse. For many, his approachable style is very refreshing, and even at his most chilled, you’ll always receive a warm welcome.

Grenache is enjoying a well-deserved moment, with a new generation of talented Aussie winemakers delivering deliciously fresh, approachable wines. This McLaren Vale Grenache is a superb example, from the exciting small-batch project Marsc Wine Co. Bringing acclaimed winemakers and prestige vineyards together covertly under a ‘masked’ label, they’re able to deliver great quality wines for brilliantly low prices. We can’t reveal who made this Grenache, but we can say that they have picked up some of Australia’s highest winemaking honours – namely, TWO Bushing Kings and a Jimmy Watson.

Planted in 1946, the old Walton Grenache block is a monument to the history of the Clare Valley. Dry-grown bush vines were planted in terra rossa soils, allowing excellent drainage at elevation and with an aspect which captures the late summer sun. This wine is a pure expression of Clare Valley Grenache. Aromas of strawberry, dark cherries (almost Cherry Ripe), cedar-spice with hints of sandalwood. The palate is silky smooth and vibrant, redolent with red cherries, red plums, blood orange and chocolate. The finish is long, expressive and youthful. Plenty behind it to cellar into the medium term and possibly more. "Youthful, vibrant red in the glass. Exotic aromas of five spice, cola, blueberry, dried herbs and red cherry. Flavours are mid-weighted, rich and fleshy. There’s plenty of red and blue fruit drive, supple and caressing tannins and bouncy, zingy acidity keeping all in check. Lovely, expressive grenache here, layers of flavour and a decent whack of complexity... 95pts" (Aaron Brasher, The Real Review).

"The world simply cannot have too many small, quality wine producers in the Barossa Valley and Pontifex is another to fit the bill" (Ken Gargett, Winepilot). Pontifex is owned and run by Sam and Helen Clarke. Sam's parents are two of the founders of another great Barossa winery called Thorn-Clarke. Indeed, Pontifex and Thorn-Clarke share a winemaker in the talented Peter Kelly. With their stunning 93pt GSM, youthful primary fruit of dark cherry, plum, raspberry with brambly spice notes filling out the expressive nose. A mid-weight palate is bright with generous rich fruits of dark cherry, plum and raspberry with dry dusty tannins on the finish. Hints of French oak cedar and spice round out the palate. "60/30/10% grenache/shiraz/mourvèdre, from Krondorf, Lyndoch and Ebenezer vineyards. Some whole bunches in shiraz; matured 20 months in seasoned French oak barrels. Sweet and sour. Tart berry fruits and green herbs contrast sweet fruit and sour acidity. Fine, supple tannins" (Tyson Stelzer, Halliday Wine Companion).

Sourced from a number of old vineyards in the Riverland and McLaren Vale, some of which are dry grown bush vines. Aromatic and lifted on the nose with a beautifully layered, textural palate with wild strawberry and spice. Vinified in small batches, separately. Wild ferments, whole bunch inclusion, larger oak and no filtration or fining define the natural character of the wine.

The Côtes du Rhône are home to many rich, warming reds that can be serious bargains, and those entitled to the Villages appellation promise even greater intensity and fruit power. Such has been the quality in Rasteau that the area was promoted in 2010 to full AOP status, putting it on a par with mighty Gigondas next door. Indeed, Domaine Martin can claim a key part in securing this promotion. The property goes back to 1905, when Julien Martin bought the 5-hectare estate. In 1947 his son Jules took over, expanding the vineyards and building a winery. Today it is run by David and Eric Martin, grandsons of the founder.This Grenache-based blend (70% Grenache, 20% Shiraz and 10% Mourvèdre) from the Cote de Rhone opens with earthy, herbal aromas mingling with hints of blackberry and raspberry. Herbal-scented dark fruit flavours drive the supple palate with smoked meat and spicy notes adding complexity.