Cockfighter was a horse who met with an untimely death, his ghost haunts a billabong but the tale would be long forgotten if it wasn't for the award winning team at Pooles Rock. Merlot vines thrive on the New South Wales central ranges, where the cool, slow ripening climes of the up and coming Orange winegrowing district yields some of Australia's finest fruit. In keeping with its provenance, Cockfighter's Ghost is profuse with the rich blueberry plum and varietal spice characters of Merlot, all supported by an exquisite, soft and lingering tannin frame.

The higher altitudes of King Valley yield harvests of the finest, slowly ripened fruit. Spring runoffs and retentive terroirs nourish the soils and stimulate the vines to infuse maximum flavour in the grapes. Merlot is an outstanding performer in the high country, taking full advantage of the cool climes to develop fully the rich fruit esters and refined, velvet tannins. Crafted by one of King Valley's stellar achievers and representing salient value, a generously complex yet exquisitely balanced Merlot wine of bespoke King Valley eloquence and remarkably elegant styling.

Margaret River Merlot, gently crushed and infused on skins a judicious four hours, for optimal uptake of rakish pink hue and rose petal perfumes. Treated to a long cool ferment on gross lees at brisk temperatures, to lock in all the plummy vivaciousness and cherry ripeness of good Merlot, promptly bottled to preserve freshness and seal in the winsome aromatics. Aromas of rhubarb, cerise et frais de bois, punnets of summer berry fruit, a voluptuous entry of revitalizing raspberry sorbet, apple and blackcurrant, a juicy, refreshing finish.

"FOUR STARS****!" Winestate. One of Buller's more outstanding offerings and certainly quite a superior effort for in a Rutherglen Merlot. It's Medoc like climate has yielded a sublime and velvety red that delivers, from nose onto the tongue. Harvested and plunged by hand and basket pressed, this intensely aromatic wine offers ripe plummy fruits, mint and dark chocolate on the nose. The palate is equally intense with dark fruits, dried herbs and enticing savoury and gamey characters. Not your average Merlot, albeit one that will continue to integrate and soften over the next 6 to 8 years.

Best Merlot Trophy & Gold Hobart. Exceptional Merlot fruit for this vintage, the Patricia Merlot has not been released since 2000. Sourced from the superior Glenkara vineyard in the Pyrenees and a small parcel 6% from the Taylors vineyard at Beechworth, Patricia has spent 18 months in a combination of new and older French oak. A wine of unshakeably gelatinous flavours like cherry and berry ju-jubes, Patricia is supple with fruit intensity and tenderness, it's soft palate and fine silky tannins, hit an immediate chord with Australian wine judges.

Exclusively Yarra Valley Merlot, picked by hand and whole bunch pressed, vinified without any exposure to oak. A gentle course of sedimentery lees stirring introduces complexity and builds textural palate richness. Strawberry nose, soft salmon hues, cinnamon, cherries and frais de bois, its unctuous fruit filled finish whets the appetite for canapes of rose coloured fare, raspberries or figs with prosciuto, tomato aspic and savoury sorbet, marinated salmon or ham.

McWilliam's are one of the largest landholders in Coonawarra, with more than three hundred hectares of the choicest properties under vine, including the exhalted Laira Vineyard, established by Captain Stentiford in 1893 atop the Coonawarra's splendid Terra rossa heartland. Eric Brand, one of the earliest patrons of the Coonawarra, became the custodian of the vineyard more than half a century later. Expressing all the distinctive regional highlights of Coonawarra, Brand's Laira is a Merlot of exceptional quality, softness and approachability.

Blue Pyrenees is a moniker in reference to western Victoria's kinship to the dividing range of southern France. Established by the most enduring marques in luxury wine, built upon a quality of fruit that's evocative of the regal reds grown to the great vineyards in Medoc. Merlot is an essential inclusion to many of the world's prestigious growths, it requires a structure and depth of character which challenges the Blue Pyrenees team to achieve vintages which are redolent with perfumed cherry plum fruit, a velvetine palate and the most affable tannins.

Adelaide Hills make mighty Merlot, the cooler temperatures, elevated aspects and sheltered mesoclimes are Shangri La for the exceptional ripening and outstanding tannin development worthy of the finest Medoc. Hand picked throughout the fogswept hours of early morning, the worthiest hand picked bunches are treated to a week of ferment before a course of fourteen months in a selection of artisanaly coopered French oak barriques. Redolent of mulberries, plum and festive spice, its fine silky tannins in support of the graceful, elegant high altitude fruit.

In few other places are the chapters of each season written as eloquently as they are in New Zealand, as snow heralds winter and stitch birds announce spring. All Hallow's Eve, a traditional celebration bidding farewell to one season and greeting the new, captures this spirit of renewal. Made to a lighter lower alcohol style, All Hallow's Eve has been specially created to welcome your new season.