Heel! Sit! Sometimes simple commands are the answer, nothing too technical, no putting on airs and graces, no fuss. Just right for pups who enjoy a lively wine. Pups like this are unrestrained yet house trained, full of the simple pleasures. A joy to all and yet showing pedigree and character nurtured with expert care. A sniff and a lick will tell you there's fun to be had with this smooth Cabernet Merlot. Fetch! Grown and trained by a family infatuated by McLaren Vale, fine wines and curly coated retrievers. A silky smooth, more-ish modern Aussie red.

From plantings dating back to the late 1970s, older well established vines on free draining silty clay loams, yielding fully ripe Pinot Noir grapes with concentrated characters and exemplary varietal expressions. The superlative sites are managed by viticulturist Ivan Sutherland, the fruit is vinified into a robust Burgundian styling by James Healy, both contributed to the genesis at neighbouring Cloudy Bay. An ambitious collation of Dijon clones 777, 667 and 115, Pommard clone 5, Abel and 10/5 from the illustrious Dog Point Vineyard.

A consistently splendid Pinot Noir from a family operated Yarra Valley winery which continues to chalk up the most coveted accolades and awards. The staple Pinot on winelists aound Victoria's better restaurants for decades, a superb effort even by the estate's own exacting standards, it exhibits what pinotphiles refer to as the proverbial iron fist in velvet glove. Silken in texture, in bucolic Burgundian styling, a wonderfully food oriented red that mates so well with everything from gorgonzola to game sausage. Complex and exciting, it evolves in the glass.

From one of Yarra Valley's most scenic sites, parcels of intensely favoured Cabernet Sauvignon, picked off fully mature vines, are vinified alongside a harvest of succulent Yarra Valley Merlot. Diamond Valley know from the luscious Bordeaux styles, having shown well at the Melbourne Federation Square Peoples Choice awards. A seamless accord of Cabernet and Merlot, endowed with genteel tannins and splendid length, from a tiny winery that puts quality before quantity.

Devil's Lair are auspiciously positioned at the heart of Leeuwin Peninsula, within the dress circle of Margaret River's most eminent wineries and prestigious vineyards. The climes here are very like the balmy maritime conditions of Bordeaux, red varietal grapes are intensely flavoured and lined by the finest tannins. There is a folklore of hidden caves and devilish marsupials which sets the background to Devil's Lair cryptic range of wines. A mostly Cabernet accord with a third of Shiraz, Hidden Cave is seamless and redolent, in opulent Margaret River claret styling.

Why the fifth leg? Recognised as one of Margaret River's leading estates, Devil's Lair is situated on the southern end of Leeuwin Peninsula, it produces some of the most meritorious wines in the Australian west. Devil's Lair know about stylish reds and have brought their smart vinification techniques to bear on the enduring Aussie blend. This funky ensemble of vibrant Cabernet, playing alongside the plummy beat of Merlot and rhythmic rumba of spiced Shiraz, will make your taste buds dance and groove and have some real fun.

Inaugural release of a superior Margaret River Cabernet, destined to be only ever made from the most outstanding vintage years. Crafted from the pick of an elite parcel in the northern precinct of Wilyabrup, where the warmer maritime climes encourage vines to yield a precious harvest of elegantly statuesque Cabernet Sauvignon. The icon of the Devils Lair marque and a preeminent regional flagship, replete with impenetrably rich, blackberry lozenge fruit characters, framed by a veneer of ebony oak, lined with the most astonishingly silky tannins.

Devils Creek runs along the base of Mount Buffalo, providing a precious source of water to replenish vines which yield the most splendid harvests of Alpine Valley Merlot. The creek was famous for disappearing underground some years and welling up again in plentiful supply during others, leaving the exasperated locals to liken it to the devil himself. A vibrant cherry red wine exuding lifted ripe plum and chocolate notes. Fully flavoured with a hint of cool climate spice and fine oak integration. Who knows, a few glasses of Devils Creek may bring out the devil in you.

Tamar Ridge have earmarked some of their finest Kayena Vineyard fruit for the Devil's Corner, a pure, crisp and rejuvenating wine displaying vibrant Pinot Noir varietal characters and remarkable approachability. Choice parcels selected from estate blocks along the east coast of the apple isle contribute balance and complexity. Fruit driven and redolent with juicy red cherry/ berry flavours, an eager to please, fully integrated wine with supple oak and gentle tannins.

Crozes Hermitage is the largest of the northern Valley Rhône appellations. Domaine des Grands Chemins is vinified from a complex cepage of grapes which are exclusively Côtes du Rhône. All the contributing vineyard plots lie on a unique geological formation known as Le Chassis at the confluence of rivers Isere and Rhône.

Saint-Esprit is a unique wine within the appellation of Côtes-du-Rhône. The harsh prevailing Mistral wind, spawned by variations of pressure in the Rhône's north to south microclimates, is one of the essential factors in the vines development. Cuvee Saint-Esprit comes from a small valley nestled in the northern part of the Ardeche. Vineyards here are planted on granite, to southerly facing slopes near the villages of Saint-Julien and-Saint-Alban. Authorized maximum yields are a scant 2.6 tons/acre, mostly of Syrah with a little Grenache.

One of Piper River's original vineyards, Delamere have established an enviable reputation amongst enthusiats, for releasing a continuity of profound vintages in Tasmanian Pinot Noir. Not just a home of good wine, the Delamere property is a centre of cultural events, hosting Shakespeare in the Vineyard every March, a celebration of gastronomy, the performing and visual arts. An exclusively single vineyard, Pipers River Pinot Noir, from fruit grown to fully mature vines, to be decanted before service, in the tradition of the world's finest growths.

Deen was a dynamic and energetic De Bortoli, who expanded the winemaking estate founded by his parents. Deen created the Vat Series to make available a range of delicious, full flavoured but approachable wines which drink brilliantly in their youth. Deen personally made the wines and chalked numbers on the vats to identify them. If you like your Cabernet Sauvignon to be easy drinking and highly compatible with good food, full of bright varietal charm and without any gritty tannins or overbearing oak character, then Deen Vat 9 is for you.

You really do get bang for your buck across the entire range of DeBortoli Deen. Originally formulated to deliver a forward drinking series of varietal wines with smoothness of palate and exemplary balance all around, the Deen range collates fruit from fine vineyards that are closely managed with the accent on quality harvests from environmentally responsible viticulture. A generously proportioned, everyday drinking Shiraz, with ample spice/ cherry/ plum characters over a length of charming, velvet tannins.

Gold UK International Wine & Spirit Competition and Royal Sydney, Silver Canberra National, Royal Perth & Cowra.

De Bortoli have the winning touch with the more obscure and esoteric varietal grapes, by virtue of an impeccable attention to detail and consuming passion to make good wine. Petit Verdot is a thick skinned, late ripening grape, which is often included in Bordeaux styled reds. It thrives under the warmth of the Riverina sun and produces a solid wine with rich bramble flavours and swarthy tannins. A match to sauced lamb and flavoursome, juicy casseroled meat dishes.

The Deakin Estate range of wines was launched in the 1990s as a limited release. Since then the estate's bountiful vineyards have delivered world class wines that are being extremely well received internationally. The sun and rich soils of the Murray River Valley yield fully flavoured, easy drinking and intensely satisfying Merlot wines. Deakin Estate exhibits all the cherry/plum fruit flavours and soft tannins that's expected of good Merlot.

Alfred Deakin was Australia's second Prime Minister, he held the office three times in the first decade of Federation. Deakin was a patriot and visionary who understood the importance of a scientific approach to Australian land management. Deakin left his mark on the Murray Darling basin by importing the expertise of California's Chaffey Brothers to prepare the vast inland valley for a century of state of the art agriculture. Deakin Estate Cabernet is a fully approachable and satisfying early syle, brimming with luscious bramble cherry fruit.

Many of the vineyards which have contributed fruit for the most memorable vintages of De Bortoli Pinot Noir, are now bearing fully mature vines twenty to thirty years of age. The finest of these sites are yielding harvests with a distinctive expression of site and a real sense of place. De Bortoli have treated the pick of the crop to a course of traditional winery yeast open ferments and judicious French oak maturation, to achieve a Villages style of provincial Pinot Noir, brimming with varietal virtue and old world pastoral grace.

Nebbiolo makes the most magnificent wines, complex and engaging, bold of tannin, effusive and eloquent, full of charm. De Bortoli have established a closely husbanded parcel of vine on a section of Dixons Creek vineyard, which emulates the fortuitous confluence of microclimes of Nebbiolo's spiritual home in Piedmont. Grapes are all hand picked and sorted into small open fermenters for three weeks of maceration, followed by fourteen months in 500 litres French oak butts. Brightly lit with graphite, mineral and spice, textural tannins in support of its plump, savoury fruits palate.

A detailed and defined, old world style of Syrah, eloquently perfumed and decidedly delicious, crafted from hand picked fruit grown to the original 1971 plantings at Dixons Creek in Yarra Valley. A striking wine of focus, excellence and concentration, articulating the opulence of a world class Shiraz. Meticulous hand sorting at harvest ensures that only grapes of the silkiest tannins and most refined fruit characters are included. A profound red wine to match with the finest gourmandise, red wine garlic braise or ripe Taleggio.

Stephen Shelmerdine never applies any pressure on his Pinot vines to perform. Handling fruit and wine by gravity, knowing when not to interfere, indigenous yeasts and a subdued use of oak, all help to render the style. The challenge is to preserve aromas and to let the palate form by itself. A pure, small batch Pinot wine, elegance and finesse are the defining characters, matched by fine texture and good structure. The result is subtlety over sunshine, terroir over intervention and delicacy over extraction, fashioned to be beautiful to drink.

De Bortoli has tapped into some of the McLaren Vale's best vineyards, accessing parcels of the most exquisite Shiraz. The lush maritime breezes off the Gulf St Vincent serve to refresh the vines as the grapes ripen in the idyllic Mediterranean climes. Here the Shiraz develops distinctive regional expressions, characterised by rich flavours and velvety tannins. A smooth and seamless palate of ripe dark cherry and bramble, preceded by aromas of lifted spice and toasty oak, to gladden the heart and accompany the finest faire.

From the illustrious De Bortoli property at Dixon's Creek, established almost four decades ago on the cooler, elevated climes of Yarra Valley. The natural endowments of the land and consequence of closely hand managed vines, achieves a bounty of the most exquisite Shiraz, treated to a combination of old world vinification techniques, whole bunch inclusions and boot treading, aged in well seasoned, large format oak. A generously layered wine that builds and builds on the palate, Aussie Shiraz of the most articulate bucolic charm and refined pastoral grace.

From the prestigious Dixon's Creek vineyards in Yarra Valley, hand crafted by the most innovative and progressive Pinot protagonist in Australia. Pinot Noir can be tricky to grow and to make into wine, De Bortoli take the greatest effort at developing deep flavours within the grapes as they ripen, while remaining in pursuit of judicious alcohol and congenial tannins. A richly textured, elegantly structured Pinot Noir, fashioned from elite vineyard parcels, a solid, Burgundy styled accord of savoury red fruit pectin, mineral and lithe spice.

A superb construct of Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, crafted from three estate parcels of fully mature, low yielding vines, planted 1987 to 1991 at Dixon's Creek. A highly regional expression of Cabernet, exhibiting profound varietal definition, bursting with dark bramble berry flavours, seasoned by a dusting of cedar and garnish of bushvine leaf. The Victorian of choice to accompany dry aged sirloin with grilled marrow, truffled mash and morelles.

Peter Dawson and Tim James worked together at Hardy's for twenty years. Their Dawson and James label is as much about personal passion as it is about professionalism. Meadowbank single vineyard Pinot Noir is the realization of a long held ambition, also anticipated by industry peers, many of whom have been mentored by the two old hands. Their precious Meadowbank property on the banks of the Derwent makes a quality of Pinot that's highly articulate of it's provenance, tucked away in the cool and collected wilderness of the Tasmanian southeast.

David Traeger is an old hand with decades of experience, after a long and distinguished history of crafting an entire generation of the most memorable vintages. Viticulture has been an essential part of Victoria's lifestyle and culture over the course of three centuries. Traeger has drawn fruit from a shortlist of low yielding Heathcote vineyards, precious sites which can trace their genesis from the nineteenth century to the 21st. Each parcel imparts its own distinct complexity and character to the finished wine.

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.

A co ferment of Shiraz with a judicious soupçon of Rousanne, foot treaded in the good old fashioned way and sent to a selection of pre loved French and American oaks for a timely term of age. Its dark, savoury Shiraz perfumes are matched by cocoa and blackberries, cedar and spice, a palate of roast meats and tarry reductions, well supported by a length of juicy graphite tannins. An understatedly sophisticated style of Shiraz with a dose of je ne sais quoi that's sure to seduce the most learned and discerning of palates.

The fun and engaging Stump Jump is the perfect everyday drink, as well as a good introduction to the d'Arenberg range. While all the winemaking at d'Arenberg is artisanal and traditional, Stump Jump can further be described as an assemblage of parcels sourced off some very old bush vines. Ideally fashioned to compliment a myriad of foods, the label characterizes the humour of d'Arenberg. Like an optometrist's eye chart, test your vision by holding the bottle at arm's length. Can you read the bottom line? If so, reward yourself with another glass!

Half Grenache, the balance in Mourverdre and Shiraz, Stump Jump is an assemblage of components that flowed down from the many senior wines in the d'Arenberg stable, including parcels from a range of growers. McLaren Vale GSM that packs plenty of interest, like an Aussie Cotes-du-Rhone, with berries and spice, savoury meatyness and fragrant earth. A touch of dried herbs adds a savoury edge with fine, lifted tannins providing a long finish. It's a cracking wine with sophistication, but don't worry it's still a lot of fun.

Chester Osborn was one of the first growers to plant Tempranillo in McLaren Vale. This torrid Spanish grape is well suited to the Mediterranean climes of the region and a traditional blending partner for some of d'Arenberg's favourite old world styles. Grenache and Tempranillo work beautifully together, the Portuguese mix of Tinta Cao and Souzao provide wonderful complexity and depth. And the quirky name? Sticks and stones may break bones but will never hurt, in truth, much of the fruit is picked off sticks planted to parched, stony soils.

The vineyards and bushland which surround d'Arenberg winery are home to the native black and white kookaburra, famous for its distinctive laughing call. Much to the amusement of the winemaker's family, Chester Osborn's daughters, Alicia and Ruby, named their two wild pet kookaburras the laughing magpies. A good branding for McLaren Vale's first ever combination of the black Shiraz grape with the sweetly perfumed white Viognier. Declassified parcels of the icon Dead Arm Shiraz are assembled into the final Magpie mix.

d'Arenberg's love affair with Grenache reaches its pinnacle with Ironstone Pressings. The original block planted in 1918, on the lower side of the winery, has a plentiful amount of ironstone throughout the soil structures, which enhances the body and tannin structure of the wine. As the finished wine is a cepage of three grapes it is a matter of selecting and screening the very best Grenache barrels. They complement the Dead Arm Shiraz component which likewise complements the 28 Rd Mourvedre portion to a point where the Grenache is beautifully framed.

The High Trellis paddock has been yielding the most splendid vintages of wine since the late 19th century, so nicknamed as the vines were the first to be trained above knee height following acquisition of the property by dArenberg. For decades, High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon has been released to unanimous critical acclaim by the wine industry press and international cognoscente. Indeed, the inaugural 1968 vintage earned a place in history when it claimed Australia's most prestigious accolade, the highly coveted Jimmy Watson Trophy.

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.

Previously known as the Old Vines Shiraz, a portion of the fruit comes off vines purchased by Joseph Rowe Osborn almost a century ago. Joseph was one of the most successful racehorse owners in South Australia until 1912, when he sold his stable to buy the d'Arenberg property. Footbolt was one of Joseph's champion horses. A very approachable wine in its youth, the soft rich middle palate, terrific texture and long rolling finish, can last for decades, as a half century of exquisite vintages have shown. Always decant The Footbolt before service.

Joseph Rowe Osborn was born in 1852, he was a lay preacher, mining speculator, public servant, teetotaler and local politician. Osborn joined Thomas Hardy & Sons in 1881, eventually becoming a partner and director. He invested in a chestnut colt which won a fortune at the races and changed his life forever. Footbolt was the first wine in McLaren Vale to be labelled as Old Vine. When the moniker became common practice it was altered to commemorate the racehorse which played a pivotal role in the establishment of d'Arenberg.

McLaren Vale was planted to Grenache long ago, when pioneers established plots of vine on their homestead farms. Grenache became rather unfashionable towards the middle of the twentieth century, Chester Osborn had the vision to acquire many of these overgrown and abandoned bush vineyards. To the layman's eye, they still look like derelict old sites, but they yield precious harvests of the most outstanding fruit. A concentrated wine with depth and complexity, oozing lozenges of winegum and prettily perfumed purple fruits.

Excellent Langtons Classification & Gold Medal 2008 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Dead Arm is a vine disease caused by the fungus Eutypa Lata that randomly affects vineyards all over the world. Often vines affected are severely pruned or replanted. One half, or an arm of the vine slowly becomes reduced to dead wood. That side may be lifeless and brittle, but the grapes on the other side, while low yielding, display amazing intensity.

One of Australia's most celebrated reds, renowned globally as much for the struggle of the diseased vines to produce the vigorous berries, as for it's spellbinding palate, and peculiar name. An excellent vintage that ripened without interruptions.

The Dead Arm Shiraz is the very best Shiraz from one of the oldest producers, in arguably the best Shiraz producing region in the world. After time in bottle the d'Arenberg Dead Arm gains a biscuity, cinnamon, caramel and eucalyptus based bouquet on top of rich blackberry pie smells. The accent is on powerful full-bodied berry fruit flavour, with a little sweet English toffee- like oak evident on the juicy, rolling finish.

Outstanding Langtons Classification, one of Australia's most revered red wines, highly sought by enthusiasts around the globe. Named after a notorious vine blight which strikes fear into the heart of viticulturalists around the world, Darenberg's construct of Dead Arm Shiraz is an aberration of ancient, truncated, gap toothed vines which date back to 1912. A powerful red wine, vinified from the most intensely flavoured hand picked fruit, renowned by enthusiasts throughout the world, it remains one of Australia's most accessible, great icon wines.

Crafted from choice parcels of Shiraz and Grenache, picked off d'Arenberg's low yielding 19th century vineyards, very much a traditional style of wine. d'Arry's Original is named in honour of principal, d'Arry Osborn, a Winemakers Federation of Australia Patron and recipient Medal of the Order of Australia. One of d'Arenberg's most enduring labels, originally called d'Arry's Burgundy in the 1960s, when medium bodied red wines with a soft finish were always called Burgundy.

d'Arenberg own and manage nearly a third of all the old Grenache bush vines in McLaren Vale. The very first instalment by d'Arenberg to display the famous red stripe was a Grenache wine, it has been a variety central to the estate portfolio ever since. During the 1980s, d'Arenberg resisted taking part in the great government sanctioned vine pull out scheme which proved to be disastrously short sighted and an assault on national treasure. Their faith in the wizzened old vines of McLaren Vale has bestowed upon d'Arenberg the accolade of Custodian.

Coppermine Road is named after an avenue, very near the d'Arenberg property which runs parallel to the finest block of Cabernet Sauvignon vines to be found anywhere in McLaren Vale. The precious grapes are descended largely from a curious and near extinct unnamed clone which yields no more than a single tonne per acre because of its very poor setting ability and tiny berries. The quality of the fruit however is far superior, with wonderful violet and blackcurrant aromas, great acidity and long but intense, finely grained tannins.

Dandelion are proven plantings of worldly vines which have stood the test of time. The Lionheart of Dandelion is a very old Barossa site, named for seminal Barossa grower Carl Lindner. Within this ancient parcel, gnarled vines, many over a hundred years of age, are not only surviving but thriving on their own roots, planted to some of the oldest soils on the planet. The hand picked grapes of this noble garden are crafted into a powerful yet approachable wine, which articulates beautifully, the dignity, generosity and grace of old vines Barossa Shiraz.

Dalwhinnie know that great Pinot Noir can only come from a healthy, well pruned vine which has the proper balance of fruit to foliage for even ripening. The bunches must be disease free, compact in composition and have good exposure to sunlight. Dalwhinnie is fortunate to have planted just such a site.