Haan are all about the magnificence of fruit grown to the superlative Hanenhof Vineyard. The original property was purchased in 1853 by George Friedrich Schmidt for one pound per acre. Development of the site to the most exacting standards has been the keystone of success, to which must be added the consuming pursuit of excellence. An assemblage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the mesmerising Medoc style of rich Barossa red, deeply flavoursome and powerfully driven by concentratations of fruit.

The nation's preeminent vintage of pure Merlot, from precious parcels of tightly packed berries, picked off fully mature vines at a magnificent old Barossa site. Treated to traditional vinification and extended term of age in an extravagant selection of French oak, Haan's black cherries and ripe plum bouquets, precede a rich, voluptuous palate, brimming with ripe fruit flavours, festive cake spice and delicate mocha oak, all supported by silky grape tannins. An august Merlot wine of great length and persistence, Prestige should be decanted three hours before service.

There are only two hectares of Merlot at Haan but they have yielded a conspicuous tally of the nation's most memorable vintages in grand Barossa Merlot. The original property along Siegersdorf Road was acquired 1853 by George Friedrich Schmidt for the cost of a pound an acre. The excellence of the harvest from this princely parcel, known to neighbouring Barossans as Hanenhof, has established a celebrity for Merlot which belies its tiny size. An edifying indigo whorl of sweet and savoury fruits, supported by cedar, while seasoned by a soupcon of sage and spearmint spice.

Haan have claimed a breathtaking tally of world class accolades for such a small, boutique Barossa estate. Conspicuous trophies and medals at the prestigious London International, Australian Wine Producer of Year and Trophy for Best Blended Red. The precious pickings off graceful old plantings of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, have been assembled into a stunning wine, defined by the interplay between dark blue currants, brambles and cassis, supported by the savouriness of gummy chocolate tannins, perfumed by the dainty delicacy of fragrant herbal leaf.

Grosset Gaia is recognized internationally, acknowledged purely on the basis of its extraordinary qualites and distinctive character. A wine that speaks loudly of its site, the rugged, austere moonscape of the Grosset Gaia vineyard on the slopes of a windswept hill at the Clare Valley's highest point. Gaia is a decidedly Bordelais assemblage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc with Merlot, an outstanding wine, pure and powerful, artisanally crafted and opulent, ultra concentrated and brooding, designed for development.

Since 1886, Grandin have been producing the finest and most successful Vin Mousseux in all of Vallée Loire. These are France's most amiable and approachable sparkling wines, renowned for their freshness and titillating aromaticness. Crafted to full and true Methode Traditionelle, Grandin begins with a rigorous selection of fruit, before being treated to a regimen of ancient vinification techniques and a minimum twelve months under secondary ferments, building creamy texture and infusing flavour.

It was in 1886 that Henri Grandin first launched the elegant sparkling wine which still bears his name. The Grandin property is still centred around the grand old château at Ingrandes-sur-Loire, with its old La Bouvraie cellars which provide the optimal conditions for maturing wine. Awarded Gold at the prestigious London International, China Wine & Spirit and Vinalies Internationales, Grandin is described by professionals as sophisticated, pleasantly toasty and extravagantly rich.

In 1883, notary and wine lover Henri Grandin married Mademoiselle Pouillet de Limesle, whose family owned the cellars at La Bouvraie in the old royal glassworks of Louis XIV, situated underneath a splendid castle at Ingrandes sur Loire. In 1886, he launched the label that bears his name. Grandin remains to this day an elegant sparkling with an exceptional palate, fine bead and exquisite bouquet. An assemblage of fruit from the Loire, Bordeaux and Charentais, is treated to a natural secondary ferment in bottle for a year, within the darkness of the 17th century Grandin cellars.

A half of Cabernet Sauvignon, the balance in Merlot with a judicious measure Malbec, all picked off the original block of Golden Ball vines, separately treated to wild indigenous yeast ferments for retention of varietal eloquence. Components are for rack and returned for malolactic, assembled and filled to an extravagantly high mix of new, Bordeaux coopered French oak for an extended term of eighteen months age. A deeply cryptic Cuvée, defined by savourynes and intensity of opaque fruit, its dark brooding layers unravel as the tannins soften and glow in the glass.

In exceptional years, parcels of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot are separately fermented. The best lots are assembled into a multiple trophy winer named Harry's Monster and treated to an extravagant maturation in the finest oak. Very strong in primary fruit, generosity and mouthfeel, its ripe seed tannins are simply singing in its youth, showing exceptional balance on a long lasting finish.

A beautifully balanced Bordeaux meets Rhone style, an assemblage of McLaren Valeʼs best for a classically arranged cépage of fruit. An Aussie claret with a difference! Cabernet Franc provides aromatics, structure and tannin, Mourvedre contributes juicyness and Petit Verdot is the funk. The Phantom is a product of exacting care in the vineyard, a high percentage of Verdot enhances the complexity and ensures the wine will develop magnificently. Only the most expressive and standout parcels are included into The Phantom.

Inspired by the great Crus of Bordeaux, the aim is to build complexity within a single vineyard wine, to allow the fruit to shine, as complemented by the finest oak, a Cabernet of profound structure, polish and finesse. The inclusion of small portions Merlot and Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, are treated to a regimen of cutting edge and old world vinification techniques. Fraser Gallop's superlative Cabernet vines are the highly regarded Houghton clone, sourced off unirrigated blocks yielding fruit with a massive concentration of flavours.

Fox Creek began to flow when a group of medicos decided to realize a lifelong passion and create the best possible wines out of bare earth and sunshine. The Fox Creek vineyards were established from the ground up to be the most environmentally friendly, whilst the vines themselves are spoiled with attention. Dr Jim Watts writes the recipe for a whole that's greater than the sum of parts, Merlot for elegance and plummy fruit, the silk of Cabernet tannins, aromaticness of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot for titillating spice and dazzling blueberry fruit.

A complex cepage of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a balance of Merlot, totted up by smaller portions Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, sourced from neighbouring properties at Yallingup, the northernmost district of Margaret River. Particular attention is paid to inclusion of fruit from auspicious gravelly soils. Fashioned to retain youthfulness and fruit integrity, even after an extended ageing in French oak, a medium bodied, contemporarily styled Margaret River claret style to be enjoyed alongside meats with rich sauces or ripe, pungent cheese.

A national wine show champion, recipient of the 2008 Jimmy Watson. Flametree is a young and most remarkable little estate which is enjoying a meteoric rise to fame, transpiring solely on the basis of quality and unprecedented trade show successes. A mostly Cabernet Sauvignon wine with a third of Merlot from fruit grown to the Karridale and Carbunup appellations of the Margaret River region. The very special sites produce the most intense wines with ripe dark berry fruit characters, the greatest depth of flavour and soundest structure.

The archetypal Margaret River fusion of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, crafted to opulent Medoc styling by one of West Australia's dauntless winemakers. Evans & Tate command a wide expanse of source vineyards, established during the nascent days of local viticulture. A mostly Cabernet wine with a component of good Merlot and a flourish of the softer Malbec, fashioned to articulate the profound elegance of the statuesque Margaret River style. Metricup Road is drinking beautifully right now, alongside succulent roast veal or pink of garlic lamb.

Durandal was created by Malet Roquefort, proprietors of Grand Cru Château La Gaffeliere, as a modern, accessible rendering of St-Émilion's renowned, solid Merlot/Franc style. A counterpoint to the structured and refined efforts of the Château wines, Durandal is well proportioned with great length of fruit and tannins to suit. A rich cepage of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with a quarter of Cabernet Franc, grown to a single, estate owned vineyard on the Cotes de Castillon, vinified by the eminent team of St-Émilion's Grand Cru Château La Gaffeliere.

The fruits of growing season 2003, cellared by David Traeger until release, have developed beautifully and speak of a sensational vintage year. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a dash of Petit Verdot, crafted at the Sommerset Crossing Wineworks, matured twelve months under a combination of the finest French Nevers oak hogsheads, followed by an extended term under the Seymour cellars. A complex wine with an earthy palate and evolved, old spice characters, dark berry flavours and well perfumed, red and black currant notes.

The Garagists are bespoke Bordeaux winemakers who work in their garage, outside of the Appellation Controlee system. Grapes are vinified in the shed or garage of boutique winemakers dedicated to making small volume wines of the highest quality. These limited editions are unclassified by the governing wine authorities, yet are often the most sought after, highly priced collectibles in the world. d'Arenberg make their wines in the very same small batch manner, processing fruit by hand in an old galvanised garage shed winery. Grab a Galvo and serve to gigot of goat.

Langton's Exceptional Classification. Diana Madeline is one of Australia's great icon wines, crafted from fruit grown to one of Margaret River's earliest sites. The vines, planted in 1971, provide a scant two tons per acre, yielding grapes of amazing concentration. Cullen have returned to the old world practice of basket pressing. To their delight, they have found that this leads to the extraction of only the finest tannins. A stately construct in statuesque Bordeaux styling, deeply coloured, the extraordinary depth of flavour reflects an outstanding quality of fruit.

Exceptional Langtons Classification. This is one of the great years for Diana Madeline. The outstanding quality reflects a combination of excellent seasonal conditions that existed for all red grape varieties during the lead up to vintage 2007 and the benefits of employing the most exacting biodynamic practices. The requisite Medoc cepage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, for a wine of imposing stature, eminence and grace.

The Cullen success story revolves around the quality of wine made from biodynamically grown grapes, sourced exclusively from the Cullen and Mangan Vineyards. Western Australia's wine industry acknowledged estate matriarch Diana Cullen by naming an award in her honour. A decidely Bordeaux mix of varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec, fashioned into a comely pink style of fresh, juicy characters, strawberries, currant and plum. Redolent and ripe and with vibrant varietal complexities, an ingratiatingly savoury, adults only, piquantly drying finish.

Completely dry grown and deliberately low cropped, the vines at Crawford River are stimulated by the chilly surrounds, to slowly ripen parched little berries with a concentration of flavour and the most elegant tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary black grape, meagre harvests of intensely flavoured fruit, layered with perfumed boysenberry and cassis richness. The holy trinity of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, framed by a measure of refined French oak, its velvetine plum and bramble nature makes Crawford River the perfect match to osso bucco or pink lamb.

The traditional Bordeaux cepage of varietal grapes, mostly Merlot with additions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Franc, grown to the Craggy Range estate owned property in the prestigious Hawkes Bay precinct of Gimblett Gravels. The complex mix is finely attenuated each year to accomodate the vagaries of vintage. Craggy Range make an opulent, solidly structured Merlot that's feted by impresarios the world over. Deeply coloured and highly aromatic, Gimblett Gravels is effusive ans profoundly structured, underpinned by signature dusty tannins.

The noble Bordeaux cepage of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, assembled into a deep dark brooding wine, rich yet approachable, alluringly aromatic yet substantial in palate and structure. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc contribute strength while Merlot softens the palate. Bursting with fragrant aromas of luscious berry fruits, lightly oaked but solidly fruit driven. Cowrock is endowed with softly textured tannins which provide seamless structure, playing a supportive role to a well proportioned and deeply satisfying wine.

Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a quarter of Malbec, red wine for rockers, those who choose to give in to their hedonistic urges. Plush generosity and a layering of flavours, pretty up front but let the wine breathe and suddenly these dry, fine and lightly chewy tannins build on the back palate, lending a savoury edge to the dark fruit richness. A skerrick of Merlot from a block adjacent the Claymore cellar door, sits in the barrel store until called for inclusion as a finishing aid, bringing structure and softness, achieving a seamless wine that leaps to the beat.

Only ever made in exceptional vintage years, from fruit grown to the old Cabernet vines on Churinga Vineyard just north of Watervale. These dry grown, gnarled old veterans yield the most superlative Cabernet Sauvignon in all Valley Clare. The harvest of this elite block is treated to a spell of extra ripening to further concentrate the intensity of flavour. The extravagance of two years French oak and minimal filtration achieve a wine of spellbinding depth and imposing structure, quite literally a beguiling Clare Cabernet to bewitch the senses.

Medical practitioners are conspicuously over represented statistically amongst the roll call of Australia's boutique wineries and grand, baronial winemaking estates. Is it all about the quest for a healthy mind and healthy body, or is it something rather more indulgent that our physicians are practising? Clearly not a depraved effort by any means, Bittersweet Symphony is a poised and gracious Cabernet wine, brimming with Clare Valley elegance, endowed with fragrant perfumes, layers of clean berry fruit and sleek, cultivated tannins.

Clairault Estate is situated approximately ten kilometres south of Yallingup, within the superior Wilyabrup dress circle of Margaret River. The property contains four dams, forty hectares of grazing land and eighty of remnant bush. The vineyard itself has been cultivated with a commitment to local flora and fauna, it yields harvests of small but intensely flavoured grapes. Merlot and Petit Verdot are assembled around a solid backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon, a stately wine of penetrating bramble fruit characters and refined, tensile tannins.

Clairault are all about taking care of the little things to build a much greater wine, vineyards are all managed like a wildlife sanctuary and the vinifcations are treated as gently as one can. Berries must be only barely split, to iintroduce just the right amount of tannin while retaining a press of the purest juices. The most exquisite parcels Cabernet Sauvignon, a touch of Cabernet Franc for interest and finesse, are delicately fermented before eighteen months of age in an extravagantly high proportion of new French oak, the fruit of Margaret River at its finest, graceful and most eloquent.

Chestnut Grove have harnessed the electric qualities of their now famous Merlot wines, loved by all and sundry, to create this most stylish of West Australian blends. A mostly Cabernet (56%) Cuvee with a lesser component of good Merlot fruit (43%) and a judicious tot of Petit Verdot, sourced exclusively from the mature (over twenty years old) Chestnut Grove vineyard at Manjimup. A mighty vintage for the region and for Chestnut Grove, which has kept production of this silken wine to a mere thousand cases.

A soft and stylish assemblage of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon, crafted at a picturesque Château on the Entre-Deux Mers. The ancient site lies between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, whence some of the finest Bordeaux Superieur are produced. A generously proportioned, bourgeoise style of Medoc, with delicately fragrant oak, crisp tannins and excellent fruit character, to match with braised boeuf or crusty baguette and good old fashioned gruyere fondue.

An assemblage of Cabernet and Sangiovese from Castellina in Chianti, Merlot and Petit Verdot from the communes at Maremma. Individual grapes are treated to the added scrutiny of a double hand sorting, individual parcels endure a warm vinification and separate course of age in a combination of 225L barrique and larger format tonneaux for eighteen months before the final assemblage. The freshness of Sangiovese is enriched by the body and palate volume of Cabernet, its dark fruits and liquorice opulence are rounded out by Merlot and pretty spice of Verdot.

The magnificence of choice harvests Frankland River and Mount Barker, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, are assembled into an exquisitely perfumed wine of defined, muscular structure and elegant, supportive tannins. Impenetrable blackberry and bramble fruit, liquorice and cassis, are all framed by its length of fine layered tannins and polished new oak. An outstanding construct, from one of the most superlative Cabernet growing appellations on the continent, Castelli offers the excellence and grace to accompany the finest gourmandise.

Capel Vale bears the fruit of more than thirty years research, trials and improvements, on the land and amongst the vines. Fully Cabernet Sauvignon and very, very Margaret River, enhanced by a regimen of new and old world vinification techniques, a full bodied red by one of the region's most accomplished teams. The choicest parcels, picked off the most superior blocks of the prestigious Scholar Vineyard at Cowaramup, elegant and statuesque, framed by stately tannins and refined French oak.

The topical cepage of Cabernet and Merlot enhanced by the inclusion of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The majority of fruit is harvested from the elite Estate and Kyella, Chapman Brook and Crossroads vineyards. Smaller amounts come from a number of long term growers located within the eminent Wallcliffe and Karridale sub districts. Trinders seeks to capture the charm of the noble Bordeaux varietal mix, grown to the salubrious microclimes along Margaret River, to craft enduring, muscular wines in a fully approachable, modern styling.

The suave Medoc accord of parcels Merlot, Cabernet Sauvigon and Franc, picked off blocks of estate vines a half century of age, grown to the sacred soils of Blewitt Springs and McLaren Flat. Separately vinified before being pressed into a selection of well seasoned French and American oak barrels for twenty two months, assembled to a style that's evocative of the Cru Bourgeois along the left bank of River Garonne. Currants, closets and cassis, ribena richness and savoury cupboard spice, a sound choice to accompany Gigot or garlic roast of gamey lamb.