Bekkers Syrah Grenache McLaren Vale The Syrah is sourced from red clay-loam over siltstone rock in Clarendon (which they now own) and Grenache from sand over orange sandy-clay in the much vaunted Blewitt Springs. Picked by hand, vinified with 15-30% whole bunches and cold soaked for 5-6 days before natural fermentation and basket pressed to aged French oak 500L puncheons. Deep inky purple with a nose of lavender, violets, blueberry, blackberry, Indian spices and a palate of leafy blackcurrant and a long, soft, silky texture.

The Torbreck Les Amis Grenache is aged for 18 months in new oak and is a remarkably fragrant wine that shows abundant aromas of spice, cherry and wild raspberry. Textured and plush on the palate, it evolves into layers of blackberry and red currants with firm, ripe tannins. David Powell continues to lead this formidable Barossa wine estate to truly remarkable heights.

TARDIEU-LAURENT Cuvee Speciale, Chateauneuf-du-Pape

BODEGAS ALTO MONCAYO Garnacha, Campo de Borja Winemaker: Chris Ringland.

DOMAINE PIERRE USSEGLIO Cuvee de mon Aieul, Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Deep red with Burgundy colours. Aromas of rhubarb, raspberry, pink musk, Turkish delight and candied orange peel. Full bodied and supremely textured with layers of sweet red fruit flavours. Dense, long and chewy tannins that coat the mouth endlessly.

Clos des Papes is frequently namechecked as one of the more consistently excellent producers of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and its singular rouge cuvée is a standout red of the region. Winemaker (and CNdP legend) Paul-Vincent Avril aims for no surprisesjust benchmark wine, every vintage. He achieves this using meticulous sorting of tiny yields, ensuring the best quality fruit every time. This rouge is full-bodied and velvet textured. While the blend changes slightly vintage on vintage, it generally contains percentages of Gremache, Mourvedre, Syrah, and minority other varietals. Aged in foudres, it is highly perfumed and concentrated, with rich dark fruit and herb flavours, alongside spicy nuances.