Merv and Judy Lange are true pioneers of the Frankland River winegrowing region, they planted their first single hectare of Alkoomi vines by hand, way back in 1971. Today, Alkoomi is one of the largest family owned labels in Western Australia. The balmy mesoclimes which surround their salubrious Frankland River property are so similar to those of Bordeaux, heaven sent for the construct of intensely aromatic Cabernet Merlot wines with magnificent structure, elegance and charm.

$1699each $201DOZEN EACH DOZEN From their initial planting, Alkoomi's area under vine expanded throughout the 1980s and 1990s, growth of vineyards has continued steadily, without sacrificing the naturally low yields which produce concentrated flavour. Vines are all pruned by hand, harvesting occurs in the cool of morning, usually starting just after midnight to ensure grapes arrive at the winery in top condition. Exclusively estate grown Merlot and Cabernet are picked at healthy levels of Baumé to build complexity and heighten flavour profile. Fruit is treated to a brisk tank vinification followed by several months in French oak hogsheads, bottled immediately afterwards to retain the intense fruit character. Alcohol 14.1%

Deep red with crimson hues. Bouquets of mulberry, blood plum and cassis meld with attractive crushed violets, notes of mint and spicy oak. Medium to full bodied palate, displaying a complex blend of flavours reminiscent of dark plums and cassis. Fine grained satin textured tannins lead to a lingering finish of cassis fruit supported by lovely spiced oak. Drinking well right now with a rich tomato pasta or juicy steak.

Located towards the northern reaches of Margaret River, where the invigorating ocean breezes form a unique microclime, Amberley produces wines with elegant flavours, solid structure and fine balance. Secret Lane keeps its promise to deliver smooth, early drinking Cabernet Merlot in fully approachable, contemporary styling. Pleasantly fragrant, with attractive blue and black berry characters, the gentlest tannins and decorous, supportive oak.

$1499each $177DOZEN EACH DOZEN Throughout the ripening period and harvest, vines are closely managed to yield grapes exhibiting a concentration of flavours, good colour and lovely ripe tannins. Fruit is sourced from vines up to twenty five years of age and de-stemmed into open fermenters. Parcels are inoculated and vinified at temperatures between 26˚C and 30˚C, treated to a careful plunging for the gentlest extraction of colour, flavour and tannins. Pressed and fermented to dryness before transfer to barrel for malolactic. Components are matured in exclusively French oak barriques for over a year, before being racked, assembled, lightly fined and bottled.

Dark crimson red with scarlet hue. Aromas of blackcurrant and mulberry spice are complemented by hints of classic Margaret River bay leaf and dried herbs. A rich, supple red wine displaying flavours of cassis and mulberry fruit with an underlying sweet oak spice. The palate persists with its great length of fruit characters, generous and completely integrated, finishing beautifully rounded with fine, powdery tannins. Enjoy with lamb and kipflers.

Wines that bear the Andrew Garrett brand reflect a strong personal commitment to quality. Andrew Garrett reconciles the firmness of Cabernet with the softness of Merlot, whilst retaining the natural expressions of both varietals. Grapes are selected from vineyards producing fruit with generous flavours and consistently high quality. The plum and cherry of the Merlot greets the fullness of the Cabernet, forming a tender, forward drinking red wine. Maturation in French and American oak completes and balances the noble blend.

$1299each $153DOZEN EACH DOZEN Today's Andrew Garrett fulfills the founder's faith in the future of Australian wine. Parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are sourced from premium vineyards, selected by the winemaking team on the basis of consistency and good varietal expression. Grapes are crushed, inoculated to select strains of yeast, then left to jam on skins for a few days over the course of fermentation. The juices are then pressed and settled, followed by racking and maturation in a combination of new and prior use French and American oaks for twelve months. The separate components are then assessed for inclusion, assembled and stabilised before bottling. Approx 13.5%

Deep red colour. A bouquet that's evocative of plum, chocolate and cedary oak. On the palate the wine shows mouth-filling fruit, softness as well as strength and good complexity. Ripe blackcurrant and chocolate notes resound, velvety mouthfeel, rich berry characters, olive and mint are supported by fine powdery tannins. An easy to appreciate, forward drinking Cabernet Merlot, enjoy Andrew Garrett with hot jazz and feisty creole recipes.

Bannockburn was established with a view to treating the vineyard as the engine of great wines, to maximise the potential of the site and to achieve a genuine expression of the vineyard from vintage to vintage. In essence to capture the terroir of the place. Bannockburn is never a reflection of market fashion or trends. An exquisite assemblage of Cabernet and Merlot in opulent Bordelais styling, with an exemplary integration of pencilled oak, artisanally dovetailed fruit, splendidly drying acids and compassionate, supporting tannins.

$1499each $177DOZEN EACH DOZEN Bannockburn Vineyards was established by Stuart Hooper in 1974 when he planted a three hectare block of vines near the township of Bannockburn, 25 kilometres north of Geelong. Bannockburn has since grown in size and notoriety to have it's wines listed with Langton's and become one of the most highly regarded small winemaking estates within Australia. Bannockburn's endeavours to create a wine that speaks purely of the unique terrain is the key to the production of some of Victoria's most memorable vintages. This sounds romantic but is far from easy. The desired outcome is only achieved through rigourous viticultural management, a hint of obsession and a minimum of hoopla.

The nose is classic aged Cabernet, leafy, cedar and cigar box characters. Reveals some savoury, leather notes and a hint of menthol over a very restrained palate. Tannins at the back indicate this wine is still quite youthful. A very long and restrained palate in a very classic style of Cabernet Merlot.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is sourced from the Schrapel family vineyards at Bethany and neighbouring sites along the Barossa foothills. The Bethany property is replete with vines up to forty years old which are very low yielding and produce fruit of great intensity and flavour. The special microclimate of the foothills is reflected in the bright, dark cherry colour, enticingly fragrant aroma and full flavoured, harmonious palate. The powerful structure of Cabernet is complemented by the suppleness of Merlot, a style which can be enjoyed fully whilst young.

$2599each $309DOZEN EACH DOZEN Traditional viticultural practices are applied, vines are hand pruned and often hand picked. Grapes from each vineyard are kept separate throughout the wine making process until assemblage. Vinified on skins in open fermenters at controlled temperatures between 22°C and 28°C for eight to ten days. After traditional pressing, the wine is transferred to American and French oak hogsheads. A malolactic culture is added early to induce secondary fermentation whilst in barrel. The wine is racked after settling and minimal sulphur is added, a critical factor for natural flavour development. Matured for ten months prior to racking and assembling, followed by a light filtration. Alcohol 13.5%

Deep, black cherry colour. A complex bouquet displaying young vibrant fruit, lifted red berries with some overtones of oak and a slightly spiced nature. A palate of soft fine tannins and fresh red berry characters. The mouthfeel shows excellent textures, approachable and satisfying in its youth. Deeply flavoursome, gentle with overtones of light milky oak, resolving on a well balanced finish, restrained acid and long, lingering fruit. Enjoy this comforting wine with a casserole of lamb and potato, or just about anything that incorporates gruyere cheese.

One of Bendigo's salient marques, a wine of extraordinary personality, built around the prominent tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon, cushioned by the plummy softness from a smaller component of resplendent Merlot. The philosophy at Blackjack is to not interfere with the vinification, in a sense, to let the grapes and the vintage do the talking. The overall character is determined by a unique combination of environment and growing season. A medium weighted, complex dry red with essential varietal definition and seamless fusion between fruit and oak.

$2699each $321DOZEN EACH DOZEN Blackjack is sited on an easterly slope, within the old apple and pear district of the Harcourt Valley at the foothills of Mt Alexander. Although just south of Bendigo, the climate is considerably cooler, and normally blessed with indian summer autumns, cool nights with warm clear days, allowing the grapes to slowly ripen. Vintage typically occurs in late April to early May. The granitic soils here are very old and not overly fertile. The Cabernet block was planted in 1989, the vines are hand pruned and hand harvested. Vinified in traditional open fermenters, hand plunged, and aged in a combination of new and prior use small French oak barriques for nearly two years. No finings and minimal filtration at bottling. Approx 14.5%

Garnet in colour. Fully fragrant with blackberries and dusty cigarbox aromas. A medium weight palate with sweet, clear cassis fruit, soft rounded tannins and a firm, fleshy finish.

A descendant of Coonawarra's oldest vines, Brand's Laira yields exceptional quality harvests of Cabernet Sauvignon which owe their provenence to historic plantings. The property played an important role in establishing Coonawarra's international reputation as Australia's most eminent red winegrowing region. Drawing fruit from superlative vineyards, including a single block which hosts the original 1893 vines, Brand's Laira is intensely varietal and displays the distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon style which has made Coonawarra famous.

$1499each $17988/DOZ EACH DOZEN McWilliam's are one of the largest landholders in Coonawarra, with almost three hundred choice hectares under vine. The Brand family are still very much hands on, managing the property and overseeing the production of wines. Cabernet and Merlot grapes are vinified on skins, rolled twice daily to ensure maximum extraction of colour and flavour. Parcels are pressed off skins and pumped to a selection of new and seasoned French, American and Hungarian oak for completion of primary ferments and malolactic. The batches are racked off lees and pumped back into oak for maturation. All components are vinified separately and assessed before inclusion into the finished wine.

Vibrant, bright crimson red with purple hues. Perfumed, fresh fruit driven nose displaying cassis, dark berries and mulberry fruit accompanied by spicy oak characters. A rich and powerful palate of mulberries and plum with an excellent weight of fruit provided by the Merlot over muscular Cabernet tannins. Mature oak characters feature as the wine finishes long and lingering over fine tannins and fragrant red fruit. Best appreciated while the vibrant flavours are still fresh, preferably alongside chargrilled sirloin drizzled with cafe de Paris butter, twice cooked potato wedges and roasted peas.

The Cabernet Merlot wines of Margaret River are famous around the world for their bold, vivid fruit, statuesque structure and penetrating dark berry characters. A confluence of climate and soils, prevailing westerlies and fine soils seem to emulate the propitous terroirs of Bordeaux. It is here that the Merlot and Cabernet grapes have fulfilled their promise to the Australian continent. Breathing Space take their pick of the crop, minimally handled to capture and preserve the conspicuous Margaret River regionality, ensuring that fruit is the defining feature.

$1499each $177DOZEN EACH DOZEN After twelve years working vintage near some of the world's finest's coastal swells in South Africa and California, winemaker, diver and avid angler Matt Byrne settled amongst the dynamic surfing winemaker communities of Margaret River. He discovered some of the world's greatest beaches and familiarized himself with the most splendid viticulture in Australia. Sourced from premiere vineyards, Breathing Space puts a focus on capturing the intense Margaret River regionality while retaining the eloquence of varietal character. Breathing Space are styled for fun, designed to be easy to drink and allow one to escape the chaos of the big city. Alcohol 14.0%

Deep garnet/ purple colour. Lovely bright red strawberry fruit followed by a hint of vanilla showing through on the nose, a balance of Cabernet bramble/cassis and Merlot cherry/plum over supple influence of oak that seems just right. Merlot gives the palate juicy blood plum and pomegranate flavours, lifted by the rich and powerful Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium bodied and lingering, the smooth yet rich finish is complimented by a length of stylish, firm and judicious Cabernet tannins.

Brookland Valley Estate made a lasting impression through their stirling efforts at Cabernet Merlot when they claimed three significant trophy wins, including the hotly contested Qantas Best Wine of Show. Expressing fully the generous palate structure and aromatic richness of the established Margaret River Cabernet Merlot accord, Verse 1 is fashioned to a contemporary, drink now styling. A beautifully perfumed, bramble flavoured wine, brimming with the quality and elegance which has earned Brookland Valley Estate a five star reputation.

$1499each $177DOZEN EACH DOZEN Brookland Valley is the only company that controls vineyards over the length and breadth of Margaret River. Harvets from the north are invariably sweeter and fuller in flavour, particularly the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Parcels are sourced from good vineyards in the northern districts, grapes are destemmed into static fermenters and inoculated with choice yeast isolates. Ferments are routinely pumped over to extract colour, flavour and tannin. After vinification to complete dryness, batches are treated to malolactic and twelve months maturation in a selection of new and seasoned French oak barrels, followed by the final assemblage and minimal fining. Alcohol 13.5%

Deep plum colour with a brick red hue. Ripe and intense cassis and spice aromas over hints of tobacco leaf and leather, a light leafiness balanced out by fine French oak. Distinguished by fine acid and tannin structure, the palate is softly textured and approachable, a high intensity of fruit flavour, mulberries and blackberry. The subtle oak contributes complexity while achieving balance. Enjoy with roasted quail, Chinese duck or lamb with garlic and rosemary.

It was lunch in the vineyard as it ticked past 12 o'clock, when I saw a sight I'll never forget on that red soiled block. It started with a shuffle but turned into a dance. The boys shook about like they wanted out of their pants! As it turned out they were losing a fight. Trying to avoid the bullants, and boy can they bite. They ran from the block and couldn't be seen, until they returned much later with a can of Mortein! We've since dealt with those bullants and they no longer bite. But their memory still lingers when we pour a glass of Bullant each night.

$1399each $165DOZEN EACH DOZEN The team at Lake Breeze are very proud of Bullant, an approachable style of drink now Cabernet Merlot produced by Greg Follett of Lake Breeze, full of fruit and framed by a lighter influence of oak. Grapes are picked at optimum ripeness off old vines grown to family owned and operated vineyards around the rich flood plains of Langhorne Creek. The well drained soils receive a deposition of silt during the annual floods, which ensures that the fertility remains at a high level. Maceration of the grapes whilst on skins has imparted to the Bullant an excellent array of varietal flavours, deep colours and silky textures. A ripe, full bodied wine which has integrated beautifully after a year's ageing in a selection of fine oak barrels.

Deep red purple in colour. A lifted aroma of blackberries with a touch of mocha. The palate is rich and satisfying with wonderful textural mouthfeel, finishing on a note of soft, polished tannins. As with all efforts by Lake Breeze wines, Bullant over delivers in quality, exhibiting vibrant fruit flavours and great palate richness. Best consumed with roast lamb or white meat bangers.

Entourage is both adherent and partisan, an outspoken proponent, cast in the mould of the great Barossa Valley Estate's flagship E&E wines. The experience from generations of viticulture and a succession of internationally acclaimed vintages all play a role in the genesis of Entourage. Parcels of Barossa grown Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are fashioned into a generously flavoured, forward drinking red wine with polished fruit and velvet tannins, realizing fully the vision of the growers, makers and entourage of devotees who contribute to the experience.

$1299each $153DOZEN EACH DOZEN Barossa Valley Estate are old hands, the progeny of generations who have worked the land and planted vines throughout much of the Barossa's viticultural history. The temperature fluctuations of Barossa Valley can be extreme, making it difficult for the tempermental Cabernet to achieve it's full potential. The team at BVE know the valley well, all it's mildest microclimes and most favourable sites. Grapes are treated to a pre ferment cold soak and maceration followed by a traditional vinification in small batch fermenters. Upon completion, batches are seeded for malolactic and transferred to a selection of mostly seasoned French oak barrels for a term of ageing and integration. Alcohol 14.0%

Rich ruby red colour. Complex aromatic nose of chocolate mint, cassis and perfumed French oak. The palate offers a multitude of Barossa characters, a concentration of dark berry flavours, plums and Cabernet leaf over a structure of fine, mellow tannins, brought forward by the Merlot for a wine of exceptional length. Serve alongside pork sausages, rich tomato based pasta or slow cooked lamb.

When the Scotchmans Hill team embarked on a pursuit to acquire the finest parcels of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in Western Australia, they discovered the magnificent national park of Cape Le Grand. White sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, the most magnificent wildflowers and sunbathing kangaroos were the added bonus in determining the choicest fruit.

$1499each $177DOZEN EACH DOZEN Scotchmans Hill was established in 1982 by David and Vivienne Browne, on one of the most beautiful landform settings in Australia. After many successful vintages Scotchmans Hill know that any wine can be made in the winery, but really great wine is made in the vineyard. The winemaking team focuses on isolating grapes displaying the most healthy, clean and intense fruit characters possible. From this point the winemaking is about being a conduit for those vineyard characters. Divided into the subregions of Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker and Porongurup, Great Southern provides an ideal environment for cool climate viticulture and distinctive regional wines. Alcohol 14.4%

Deep garnet in appearance. Dark fruits and red berry aromas with a touch of chocolate and spice over a cedar oak background. Generous and ripe on the palate with black currant and red berry fruits with a chocolate and spice inclination before a cedar oak finish. Soft and ripe tannins with good acidity gives overall roundness and richness to the wine. A beautiful wine to pair off with succulent lamb.