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1
Best red wine
Purple Owl Pinot Noir
1
Best red wine
Purple Owl Pinot Noir
If you like your reds fruity and full-bodied, step this way. The vineyards of California’s sunny Lodi region produce soft, fruit-forward styles, and this offering from Purple Owl is no different.
Our panel appreciated its sweet cherry, ripe raspberry, redcurrant and plum notes, with a floral flourish of roses and raspberries, backed by earthy smoke and leather. Balanced with ripe tannins and a long finish, it’s our top all-rounder.
2
Best cabernet sauvignon
Petaluma White Label Cabernet Sauvignon
2
Best cabernet sauvignon
Petaluma White Label Cabernet Sauvignon
Spanning a range of flavour notes, from menthol and eucalyptus to rich cocoa, this complex Australian number is moody and complex.
There’s a hint of spice as well as a little liquorice, and some rounding earthiness. Its robust notes of rich blackcurrant, cherry and plum pair beautifully with roasted meats. Delicious.
3
Best shiraz
The Hedonist Ecology Organic Shiraz
3
Best shiraz
The Hedonist Ecology Organic Shiraz
Described by our experts as "like a walk across a forest floor", this biodynamically produced shiraz from The Hedonist combines tartness with some savoury notes.
Alongside chocolate, ripe red fruits and a little smoke, you’ll find some tobacco and even a little mushroom on the nose, and some nutty notes.
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4
Best pinot noir
Storm Wines Pinot Noir
4
Best pinot noir
Storm Wines Pinot Noir
Stony, clay-rich soil in South Africa’s Hemel-en-Aarde Valley helps give this pinot noir its intensely rich flavour. That, and the fact it’s aged in 25% new French barriques for 11 months and released after 15 months in bottle.
Get that chicken risotto cooking; look for vanilla, plum, sweet cedar and a little smoke from this dry and pleasing acidic tipple. It pairs perfectly with the dish, or other treats such as pâtés and terrines.
5
Best merlot
Columbia Valley Merlot
5
Best merlot
Columbia Valley Merlot
Like to stick with red, even when the mercury rises? This purple-hued treat could be just the thing. Though made from over 80% merlot, there’s also a little syrah, malbec and cabernet sauvignon in the mix.
Light, with hints of vanilla and coconut, it definitely evokes summer, but there's also some deep berry and cherry notes to keep things juicy. Pair with a bright salad.
6
Best for pairing with red meat
Penfold's Max's Shiraz Cabernet
6
Best for pairing with red meat
Penfold's Max's Shiraz Cabernet
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Renowned Australian wine maker Penfolds has been producing wine for 175 years, and claims to source only the best grapes, from the best regions, to put in its wines.
This one uses shiraz and cabernet sauvignon grapes from across South Australia to create a wine our panel described as soft, herbal and fruity, with notes of vanilla, plum, star anise and a little smoke. Bring out those smoked notes by pairing with a steak or grilled fish.
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7
Best old vine red
David Traeger Three Centuries Shiraz
7
Best old vine red
David Traeger Three Centuries Shiraz
What’s in a name? This shiraz uses grapes harvested from vines planted in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, sourced from three vineyards in Australia’s Heathcote region.
As older vines tend to produce grapes more intense and concentrated in flavour, you can expect black cherry, pomegranate and a little bitterness from this dry number. It’s wonderful with roast chicken.
8
Best full-bodied red
Vasse Felix Premier Cabernet Sauvignon
8
Best full-bodied red
Vasse Felix Premier Cabernet Sauvignon
With earthy cocoa, cedar and a hint of cigars, this deep, smooth red stands out. Produced in Western Australia’s Margaret River region – a hotspot for cabernet sauvignon production – you’ll also find notes of sweet strawberry, liquorice and pepper, backed by tannins, and a little unripe currant. It may taste young but it’s full of flavour.
9
Best for savoury notes
Creation Bay Pinot Noir
9
Best for savoury notes
Creation Bay Pinot Noir
Like a little savoury spice in your wine? Yes, pinot noir does grow in South Africa, in this case 350 metres above sea level, in the cooler climes of Western Cape’s Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge.
With the funkiness of an old-world wine, and a dry but light mouthfeel, the finish may be quick, but there’s some alluring dried cranberry, and a little parmesan.
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10
Best with a cheese board
RedHeads Whip-Hand Cabernet Sauvignon
10
Best with a cheese board
RedHeads Whip-Hand Cabernet Sauvignon
A great-tasting wine that’s also good for the planet? What’s not to love? This small-batch producer from Australia’s Barossa Valley is organic, uses 100% renewable energy, and collects and re-uses waste water and rainfall, among a number of other initiatives.
This one leans a little sweet for a cabernet sauvignon, but our panel loved its sweet tannins and black pepper spice, while its warming fruit pairs perfectly with cheese and charcuterie.
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