Castello di Volpaia Balifico Toscana IGT Balifico is named after for the vineyard from which the fruit is sourced. Situated at an altitude approximately 450 metres, youll find it between the celebrated vineyards of Coltassala and Casanova. The Balifico is a Supertuscana blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignonand one of the first of this revolutionary new breed to win acclaim by international wine media.

RIDGE VINEYARDS Gaudagni Zinfandel, Santa Cruz Mountains

Cape Mentelle has a rich history of exceptional quality and consistency with Cabernet Sauvignon, from a pioneering producer in Margaret River in the early 1970s to a benchmark winery today. A full-bodied wine with intense blue and black berry preserves on entry, followed by tobacco, savoury and gamey layers, all framed by firm, ripe tannins creating a complex wine of length.

Wendouree Shiraz Mataro is deep in colour, has blackberry and liquorice core and hugely famous tannins. The wines from Wendouree are honourable wines - highlighting the connectivity of winemaker, traditional wine-making practices, regional characteristics and vineyard personality.

First made in 1959, Penfolds Kalimna Shiraz is an icon in the field of warm-climate Shiraz. Always ripe, robust and generously flavoured. The Bin 28 is named after the Kalimna vineyard that was purchased back in 1945 and from which the original fruit was sourced from. Today, the Bin 28 is a great example of the Penfolds dedication to multi-region, multi-vineyard blending. The Barossa Valley will always remain an integral part of the Bin 28 blend providing rich, vibrant primary fruit flavours.

In 2002 John Duval left Penfolds after 29 years (17 as Chief Winemaker) and established his own, eponymous label. Plexus Shiraz Grenache Mourvèdre (first vintage 2003) was the inaugural John Duval Wines release. As Duval says: in a region (the Barossa Valley) that boasts the oldest Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre vines in the world, I decided to focus on this famous Barossa Valley blend. Plexus is typically 50% Shiraz, 30% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre. Shiraz provides the blackberry core and structural backbone. Old vine, low yielding Grenache (some over 100 years old) provides aromatics and texture. Old vine, low yielding Mourvèdre (the oldest well over 100 years old) add savoury, spice and earthy notes. Stylistically, Duval is not aiming for the fruit bomb, high alcohol interpretation; rather Plexus aims to be a respectful, elegant expression of very old Barossa Valley vineyards. Plexus sees 100% barrel maturation in 300 litre French oak hogsheads (only 10% new). While drinking well as a young wine, Plexus matures well, showing a complex array of savoury and mature berry notes and a generous core of sweet fruit and soft tannins.