Four Sisters Merlot 2009 / ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

A turkish delight, the palate oozes moreish flavours, there's ample weight and intensity, well proportioned tannins, balance, harmony and mouth watering finish, a super all rounder.

Brands Laira Cabernet Merlot 2010 / ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Consistently over delivers. Offers plenty of ripe, fleshy red and black fruit characters over a carriage of firm but juicy tannins. It's all mince and cherry pie, plum and soy with hints of wafer and vanilla oak. The generous finish lingers on a note of black cherry and plum flavours.

Chateau Vieux Manoir Bordeaux Supérieur 2007 / ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

A light, smooth expression of Bordeaux with sweet plum, floral and violet fragrances seasoned by spice and mildly dusted oak. Vivifying acids and solid but juicy tannins provide good support, she closes to savoury vegetal and herb with a dry and textural mouthfeel.

Capel Vale Margaret River Cabernet 2010 / ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Cassis, blackberry and tar on the nose and palate. A sweetly scented, glorious expression of Margaret River Cabernet, assertive, chiselled and defined.

De Bortoli Windy Peak Cabernet Merlot 2009 / ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Juicy, wet and exciting, Windy Peak's cabernet merlots may not be X-rated, but the satisfaction dial has certainly been turned up to the max. All the while you're soaking up those velvety tannins, your nose and mouth are getting some full throttle plum and chocolate fruit, strawberry and sultry coconut oak. A splendid red wine, anywhere, anytime.

Dutschke Gods Hill Road Shiraz 2009 / ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Recognizably Barossa for it's hearth of smokey fruit and savoury reductions on the palate. It blooms as it breathes, engulfing the air with plumes of boysenberry and pastille, scented oak and flattering tannins. Pious and pristine, God's Hill will tug at the heart of the Barossa enthusiast.

Moondah Brook Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 / ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

A collegiate cabernet if ever there was one. Esoteric fruit everywhere, currants and boysenberry, blueberries and bramble, silken robes and illustrious tannins, refined, distinguished oak.

Yalumba Organic Shiraz 2011 / ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

No I protested, I won't like this, it's probably good for you - so an epiphany? You bet, preconceptions dashed, substantial complexity over a generous, spiced mouthful of tightly integrated fruit and inspiring tannins before a splendid, lingering finish.

Knappstein Cabernet Merlot 2010 / ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

A gorgeous red wine with luscious mulberry/ loganberry highlights and light, toasty oak over perfectly poised, gummy tannins. A completely engrossing drink, exhibits complexity and integration.

Flametree Margaret River Cabernet Merlot 2008 / ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Aromas that arise like a genie out of the bottle, currants and blackberry upfront, cedar and cassis. An athletic presence on the palate, enthusiastic, persistent and compelling, the fruit is discernible and clean, the tannins firm and new. A wine of impact and majesty.

Evans Tate Gnangara Cabernet Merlot 2010 / ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

A well formed wine, the plummyness of the merlot takes turns with the cassis of cabernet, playing musical chairs to the background melody of blackcurrant/ pastille notes, spiced complexity and charry oak.