RedHeads has always been a bit of a rebel! The winery was started in 2002 in the McLaren Vale - a cellar where young winemakers could come in their spare time and make just the sort of small-scale wine they dreamed of (not like they did in their day job). Since then, the winery has moved home a few times, and finally put down real roots in the Barossa, building one of Australia's leading eco-friendly cellars. There, surrounded by many of Australia's biggest wine names, they handcraft revolutionary wines from top batches of grapes, rescued from under the noses of the big players. March of Progress celebrates a path in the green direction, using the best rows of organic Shiraz from top McLaren Vale grower Jock Bosworth. Rich and weighty – velvet texture, rich black fruits, long and weighty, rounded tannins

The Bill & Arthur is named after two pioneering and well-regarded Coonawarra local legends and, we are delighted to tell you, that in the glass, this special exclusive is deep, dark and downright delicious. Drawn from the 1890s heritage row and other Redman vineyards with an average vine age of about 50 years, the Bill & Arthur stands as a classic Coonawarra Shiraz: medium-bodied, with a richness of fruit that ripens at a lower alcohol level than typical Barossa and McLaren Vale Shiraz. Hand-plunged and basket-pressed, the 2021 exhibits generous blackcurrent, violet and bramble aromas, leading to a savoury flavor profile with a touch of pepper and Chinese five-spice playing in the background. Just add barbequed ribeye with black pepper sauce. Dan Redman describes the 2021 vintage as one of Coonawarra’s best. Matured in aged American and French oak for about 12 months. Will cellar for 5 to 10 years but ready for immediate drinking pleasure.

Fitou is one of the top appellations of the Languedoc, with red wines that are hugely appealing with their rich, ripe fruit and authentic taste of the herbal garrigue. Our buyer, Mark Hoddy, lives close by, always on hand to check out any great discoveries. This is one from the Dellova family and their 40-hectare estate, which they've owned since 1971. They proudly began organic conversion in 2009, gaining full status in 2012. Brothers Thierry and André are today in charge, nurturing the vines in the dry, ocean-breeze-swept terroir of La Palme. This fabulous, silky, intensely flavoured 2019 is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre, heaped with heady black fruits and spice. Perfect for baked aubergine and tomato or grilled meats.

Leogate Estate was established in 2009 by Bill and Vicki Widin, however, their vines are much older. The winery has maintained a 5 Red Star rating for well over a decade now, and their Western Slope has rarely fallen below 95pts in that same period, such is the impressive consistency of this Reserve Shiraz. The 2017 vintage presented a smaller yield vintage for Hunter reds, which means concentration of flavour has been high. This is well deserving of a place in your cellar. “It puts on a classy display based on a core of cherry-plum flavour though it's also appropriately adorned in smoky, cedary oak. Earth and spice notes strut throughout and the texture is silken. It doesn't put a foot wrong, and it's impressive... 95pts” (Halliday Wine Companion, Campbell Mattinson).

Classical elegant Hunter shiraz, crafted from 50-year-old vines. Plums and violets on the nose, with touches of lavender and licorice. Savoury nuances mingle with juicy fruits on the palate, framed by smooth tannins. "A welcome confluence of 50yo vines, 12 months in (1st to 3rd pass) French barriques, volcanic loams and plenty of destemmed whole berries to impart a pulpy, lively jubiness to the fruit, all accentuated by a violet lift. Licorice straps and lavender notes, too. This is a benchmark medium-bodied Hunter red, drinking akin to a luncheon claret. Just what the region does well... 93pts" (Ned Goodwin MW, Halliday Wine Companion).

Once your wine arrives, slow right down. Be patient with this wine and it will reward your handsomely – decant for half an hour and the transformation is magical. Once the juice loosens up and releases its hidden depths, it develops an aroma that is just divine. Discover liquorice, blackcurrant, cherry, blackberry and bitter cocoa mirrored on the palate with turbo-charged punch and power. And the finish? It goes on forever…

Handpicked fruit has been aged in French oak hogs heads and puncheaons to ensure the fruit was the dominant flavour and structure of the wine. On the nose layers of bright red and dark fruits greet you with perfume, spice and earth notes. This is followed by a complex and vibrant palate with a beautiful perfume. Layers of red currants and blueberries integrate with spice, underlayed with French vanilla bean and some earthy notes. It has waves of fine grained chalky tannins and a long finish.

Classic single vineyard Barossa shiraz made from old vines on the western ridge of the valley. There’s opulence, fruit weight, fine tannins and a long finish on this one. Wild yeast has been utilised before nearly two months in a mix of new and seasoned French and American oak. Plum, mulberry and clove jump out of the glass upon first whiff. The palate expands even further with vanilla, licorice, dark chocolate and graphite. Smoothness, complexity and depth all wrapped up in a velvety package. This is really, really good vino.

Another step on the pioneering path for Margan, this is a field blend with the three varieties vinified together each year. The grapes are from Margan's Timbervines vineyard, planted to red volcanic soils and covers a tiny 2 hectares. There’s a lovely plushness to this red, with forest berries, violets and dark chocolate notes singing together. Soft tannins and that trademark refreshing acidity in place. A revelation.

Our scout and buyer for the Languedoc is Mark Hoddy. He's always searching out the vineyards of the Languedoc and further south to the Roussillon, to check out the vintage and the finest parcels of grapes. This is an ace find Mark discovered last vintage via an old friend in Corbières. Close by is Domaine La Lirande, a small estate that enjoyed a great vintage in 2019 and again in 2020 (remember that long, sunny growing season?). The Syrah stood out for quality and, too good to blend, the winemaker kept it solo. Mark reserved the lot in both vintages. Seductive ripe black fruit, velvety, with smoky liquorice and wild herb notes. It's young, so best with hearty dishes and at a barbecue. After a few months, it'll be delicious on its own.