Frank Potts established the Bleasdale vineyards in 1850, his eponymously labelled wine commemorates a legacy of innovation and resourcefulness. Frank Potts is a Bordeaux styled Cabernet which may contain varying portions of Malbec or Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc or Merlot depending on the performance of vintage. A litany of trophies and gold for the Bleasdale flagship, highly rated in many Jimmy Watson taste-offs, Frank Potts has also claimed gold and trophy for best Australian red at the prestigious London International Wine Challenge.

$2699each $321DOZEN EACH DOZEN Langhorne Creek's founding winery, Bleasdale Estate is today owned and operated by the fifth generation of the Potts family. A cépage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the very best parcels grown to Bleasdale's vineyards are reserved for Frank Potts. The essential qualities of this wine are derived from the precious vines which are mostly flood plain grown, planted to rich, silty soils which provide the nourishments for this stirring wine. Grape yields may be low but the quality is always superb. Frank Potts is treated to an extended maturation in a combination of new and prior use French and American oak 300 Litres hogsheads before a light egg white fining. Alcohol 13.9%

A deep, red/purple coloured wine. Frank Potts explodes with a great perfume. Powerful flavours of blackberry and cassis, chocolates and mint, raspberries and plum, dark cherries and violet, richness and texture, all integrating beautifully with the very subtle French oak, finishing long with a lovely sweet fruit richness.

The first block of Brokenwood vines ever planted was on a cricket pitch. Acquisition of this ten acre property on McDonalds Rd in October of 1970 almost fell into competitor's hands during a bidding war against Hungerford Hill. By the time the site became productive in 1973, Brokenwood had established themselves at the apex of a resurgence in Hunter Valley viticulture. Cricket Pitch is a varietally rich cépage of Cabernet and Shiraz, Merlot and Petit Verdot from vineyards in the central ranges of New South Wales, Beechworth and McLaren Vale.

$1499each $177DOZEN EACH DOZEN Fashioned to a fruit driven, drink now styling, Cricket Pitch is an entry level into one of the nation's most collectable labels. A precious block separating Cricket Pitch and the eminent Graveyard Vineyard has remained elusive to Brokenwood, who were taunted for many years with outrageous invoices sent to them by neighbouring Hungerford Hill over the collection of firewood. Harvests of Cabernet and Shiraz, Merlot and Petit Verdot from the Central Ranges, Beechworth and McLaren Vale are placed into vinomatic fermenters and treated to a three day cold soak prior to vinification. Upon completion, the finished wine is matured eighteen months in a selection of seasoned American and French oak barriques. Alcohol 14.0%

Medium to full colour and density. Aromas of red cherry, spices and earth. Mid weight palate with some Cabernet cedar up front that leads to soft Shiraz richness. The oak regime is mainly older American and French so limited impact although some vanillin on both nose and palate with a long sweet finish. A drink now style that will continue to soften, excellent fruit flavours and balance being the features.

The historic Metala Vineyard has been in family hands since since the 1850s. Closely managed by fifth generation viticulturalist Guy Adams, the heritage property is the source of fruit for the national icon Metala label. Adam's family has been growing grapes since 1891, he still keeps a close watch over his vineyard which is just two minutes down the road from home. The pick of Langhorne Creek Shiraz is vinified alongside a sizeable inclusion of Petit Verdot, to be followed by an extravagant two years repose in a selection of the finest oak.

$3499each $417DOZEN EACH DOZEN The Brothers in Arms concurred to embrace a flagship varietal, Shiraz was the obvious choice. A leading wine distributor from California who was seeking premium Shiraz picked up on Brothers in Arms. The brand was subsequently awarded George Mackey Trophy for Australia's best export wine out of a field of 13,000. This exclusively estate grown effort is sourced from twenty individual plantings on the Metala property at Langhorne Creek. The original vineyard at Metala is still bearing a hundred acres of vine, some are well over a century old. Following vinification, the final wine is matured two years in a combination of new, one and two year old French and American oak barriques. Alcohol 15.5%

Deep crimson colour. Distinct regional aromas of menthol, peppermint and mocha coffee, biscuity/ biscotti oak interwoven by blackberry and a touch of leather. Intense blackcurrant fruit and spice on the palate with super fine tannins which build with intensity before a long, mouth filling finish. Starts small and finishes big!

The topical cépage of Cabernet and Merlot enhanced by a smattering of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The majority of fruit is harvested from the exclusive Trinders and Foxcliffe vineyards at Margaret River. Smaller amounts come from a number of long term growers located within the eminent Wallcliffe and Karridale sub districts. Trinders seeks to capture the unique character of the noble Bordeaux varietal mix, grown to the enchanting microclimes along Margaret River, to craft enduring, muscular wines in a fully approachable, modern styling.

$2199each $261DOZEN EACH DOZEN Margaret River produces Australia's soundest and most regionally distinctive Cabernet and Merlot blends. The majority of the vineyard soils are derived from decomposed granite and consist of a gravelly loam over a deep clay subsoil. All vines are vertically shoot positioned and managed to ensure balanced growth during the season. Grapes are destemmed and berry sorted, individual batches are vinified on skins for up to thirty days. When a balance of fruit and tannin extraction is achieved, batches are gently basket pressed, harder pressings are kept aside. Parcels are racked to a selection of new and prior use Bordeaux coopered barriques for malolactic, regular racking and fourteen months maturation. Alcohol 13.5%

Deep red with crimson hues. An array of varietal expression to the nose beginning with wild berries, violets, tobacco leaf and couverture. Medium to full bodied, the wine exhibits a clarity of fruit with vibrant blackcurrants and mulberry combining with subtle chocolate and cedar. The palate is classically structured with firm, savoury tannins leading to a long, rich and bright finish. Enjoy with herb crusted lamb rack and kipfler.

Capel Vale bears the fruit of more than thirty years research, trials and improvements in the vineyard. Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon and very, very Margaret River, enhanced by a small percentage of classic Bordeaux varietals, a full bodied red wine by one of the region's most distinguished estates, elegant and statuesque, framed by attractive tannins and splendid oak.

$1999each $237DOZEN EACH DOZEN The Margaret River region while cool, experiences an earlier vintage and can support red grape varieties which would not ripen so well elsewhere. The cooling influence of the Indian Ocean permits complex flavours to develop while warm days ripen the tannins. Picked at optimum ripeness from the Scholar Vineyard, vines are carefully husbanded and harvest is carried out to healthy levels of baumé. Fruit is destemmed but not crushed and each batch is handled separately. Treated to a cold maceratation and moderate ferment, yeasts are introduced to increase texture and aromatics. Following vinification and extended maceration, the wine is matured in a selection old and new French oak barriques. Alcohol 14.0%

Vibrant red colour with purple hues. Mulberry, cassis and capsicum overtones. Mulberries, cassis and plum with some secondary chocolate tones. Delicious to drink young for its primary fruit characters, promising great complexity. To accompany beef stroganoff, dukkah crusted lamb, mature cheddar, parmesan or romano.

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%) Cuvée 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.

$1999each $237DOZEN EACH DOZEN A programme of limiting crop load and irrigation together with canopy management to achieve 80-100% light exposure in the fruit zone ensures intensity of flavour, body and colour in a cool climatic region. The fruit is crushed to small open fermenters and then undergoes a cold pre-fermentation maceration for 24-36 hours. During fermentation, management is achieved with a combination of hand plunging, pumping over and rack and returns at critical stages in the fermentation. The oak regime was 30% new, 70% 1 year old French oak sourced from three selected cooperages which fully complement the fruit. All barrels and wine batches are assessed individually with only the best barrels making the final cut. Alcohol 14.5%

Deep red with crimson hues. The aromas are laden with red currant, plum, chocolate and a sweet herbaceous mint character with spicy biscuity oak to compliment the lifted perfume. The palate displays complex blackcurrant and subtle menthol with fruit cake and vanilla bean flavours. A wine of great weight and depth of flavour with fine, mouth coating tannins.

Langton's Exceptional Classification. The requisite Medoc cépage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, for a wine of eminence and grace.

$11999each $1437DOZEN EACH DOZEN Grapes for Diana Madeline are grown to the most fastidious biodynamic farming principles, crucial for optimising quality of fruit and intensity of flavour while infusing the wine with velvety structure and ultra high quality tannins. The vines were originally planted to granitic soils in the central Willyabrup subregionb by Di Cullen in 1971, the meagre yields of two tons per acre sublimate into harvests of the most concentrated fruit. Grapes are picked at baumés ranging from 12˚ to 13.8˚, gently handled and sorted with great care. Varietal components are inoculated to natural yeasts and separately vinified. The finished wine was matured fourteen months in a selection of the highest quality French oak barriques.

Very concentrated deep red colour. Already very complex, clean and rich blackcurrant aromas with a touch of blackberry and vanillin oak. The complex amalgam of liquorice, fennel and multi fruit flavours, including plums and mulberry, red currants and blueberry, are backed by just the right amount of clean oak. Long and persistent. The extraordinary depth of flavour reflects the outstanding quality of vintage 2007. Complete, elegant and refined, a wine of exceptional length, an outstanding Cabernet.

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.

$9999each $1197DOZEN EACH DOZEN In accordance with biodynamic principles, all fruit is hand harvested from vines up to forty years of age. A patented Mistral® apparatus removes the leaf material and infertile berries from the vineyard, providing cleaner bunches. A luxurious cépage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot, the grapes are carefully sorted before fermentation to indigenous yeasts and malolactic bacteria. No acid or cultured yeasts are added, achieving a wine with a sense of place through a completely natural process. Components are separately vinified before being treated to nineteen months maturation in a selection of new and seasoned French oak barriques.

Delicate crimson with garnet ruby hue. Plum, mulberry and blackcurrant aromas cascade out of the glass accompanied by elevated notes of violet and rose. Savoury ironstone and tobacco complete the classic aroma profile of Diana Madeline. Fine grained tannins with uplifting and sustained fruit notes. Red fruit and plum flavours connect with the ironstone minerality, providing backbone and structure. Medium bodied, elegant, the depth and length of the palate are profound. The proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove.

The Garagists are producers in Bordeaux who make great wines 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 efforts 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.

$2899each $345DOZEN EACH DOZEN The complex Bordeaux cépage of Cab Sauvignon and Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Each component is gently crushed in an ancient Demoisy open mouthed, rubber toothed crusher so that as many berries as possible remain whole. The must is transferred to open fermenters where seeds and skins are kept submerged beneath the free run juice, vinified without any plunging or pumpovers and treated to a traditional foot treading and basket press. The combined free run and pressings are transferred to barrel for completetion of ferments and malolactic. Components are assembled and aged in a selection of new and seasoned French and American oak barriques.

Visually deep and dark, suggesting a complex full bodied, oak matured wine. Classic cabernet aromas with notes of exotic dark plums, mulberry, blackcurrants, fragrant cassis and an underlying mix of dark chocolate, cherries, cured meats and spiced violets. Green runner-bean and fine-toasted, French oak, cedar notes come through as the wine opens. The palate is ripe and has an impressive elegance upon entry and then you are struck with the overwhelming complexity and presence. Extremely juicy with a wonderful deep richness and structure. A mix of pure fruit with edges of exotic notes, immense structure and length with mineral acidity and fine lacy tannins directing the fruit.

Cellared by David Traeger until recent release, the 2003 has developed beautifully and expresses a sensational growing season . Cabernet Sauvignon, with a dash of Petit Verdot, and a larger proportion of Merlot has been matured for twelve months under a combination of good French Nevers oak hogsheads, yielding a complex wine with an earthy palate and well evolved, aged flavours. Dark berry and black curranty aromas, the well structured palate is influenced by the finely grained oak, a tightly knit wine, and very ready to enjoy.

$2599each $309DOZEN EACH DOZEN The winemaking aim is to produce elegant and distinctive wines reflecting the unique regional characters of the Goulburn-Nagambie region, through the use of traditional methods, with the benefit of the latest technology. David Traeger wines was established at Nagambie in the eighties, and David himself, after a successful stewardship at the Mitchelton Estate winery, now sits on the board of directors at hugely successful Dromana Estate. Traeger made use of the winemaking facilities at Sommerset Crossing Winery in Seymour to make this excellent and complex red blend, an arrangement that has seen David's twenty-five years of successful winemaking experience, benefit both of the joint venture labels. Approx alcohol 14.0%

Velvet red with dark robes. Bouquets of lively red berry and cassis, subdued notes of fresh cut cedar, raisined and meaty aromas of currants and plums. The complexity of the blend comes through with hints of wet earth and truffle, chocolate and tobacco. On the tongue are flavours of red currant and blackberry, stewed cranberries and fruit preserves, the sweet and savoury flavours are well supported by good oak hints. Palate is thick and chewy, round, full and velvety, generous and deeply interesting. Finish is mellow, and lingering. This wine's been cellared by David Traeger, and whilst ready to enjoy right now with game and roast meats, can still be be classed as a keeper for laying down to develop even further.

De Bortoli have the winning touch with the esoteric varietals, by virtue of an impeccable attention to detail and devotion to making good wine.

$999each $117DOZEN EACH DOZEN Petit Verdot was probably brought to France by the Romans and is today mostly used to add stiffness and complex tannins to Cabernet blends. It takes very well to the Riverina where it translates into a fruity, flavoursome meat and 3 veg style of wine. The winemaker works closely with the viticulturist as the Petit Vedot develops on the vine. Each individual parcel is selected by the De Bortoli team based on fruit ripeness and flavour profile. Fruit is cold soaked at 10°C for twenty four hours on skins to gently extract flavours. Musts are warmly fermented for a week or more at 18°C to 22°C before being aged in a combination of tank and oak barriques. Alcohol 14.8%

Deep purple with crimson red hue. Black berries and cherry, hints of violet over supple chocolate and mocha fragrances. Rich dark fruit, well integrated mocha oak combined with fine tannins adding richness to achieve a lingering palate that's full of Petit Verdot varietal flavours.

A lifelong friendship between local winemaking identities lead to the establishment of one of the Margaret River's most successful estates. The Flametree wineworks are located on the picturesque shores of Geographe Bay, whence some of the new world's finest Cabernet wines originate. Flametree can lay claim to retaining some of the Margaret River's finest parcels of fruit, which the devoted winemaking team handcraft into beautiful wines with unique flavours, solid structure and good palate weight. Grapes are vinified in static upright fermenters with gentle pumpovers. Fourteen months maturation in a selection of new and older French oak barrels has softened the tannins and contributed wonderful structure.

$2199each $261DOZEN EACH DOZEN A lifelong friendship between local winemaking identities lead to the establishment of one of the Margaret River's most successful estates. The Flametree wineworks are located on the picturesque shores of Geographe Bay, whence some of the new world's finest Cabernet wines originate. Flametree can lay claim to retaining some of the Margaret River's finest parcels of fruit, which the devoted winemaking team handcraft into beautiful wines with unique flavours, solid structure and good palate weight. Grapes are vinified in static upright fermenters with gentle pumpovers. Twelve months maturation in a mixture of new and older French oak barrels has softened the tannins and given wonderful structure.

Deep red in colour with a bright purple rim. Classic Cabernet nose of cassis and blackberry with notes of freshly dusted cocoa and subtle spice. The palate is beautifully concentrated, packed with dark fruits and bitter chocolate characters. A juicy, almost sweet mouthfeel with fine tannins and a savoury finish. Aged in tight grained, quality French barrels, the oak has pulled the fruit into line and provided the framework for a classic Margaret River Cabernet Merlot.