Oxford Landing 2024 Cabernet Shiraz

 

This is a perfect choice for when friends drop by for a barbecue. Oxford Landing always offers good value for money and this blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz is a ripper "midweek" red for immediate enjoyment. It is dark with berry, currant and cherry flavours, hints of spice, and made in a soft, easy-to-drink style that would match with burgers, sausages, lamb chops or mushroom dishes. Fruity on the mid-palate but dry on the finish, this is an impressive effort for $13. https://www.oxfordlanding.com/ 

Penfolds 2023 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz

 

When the 2025 Penfolds Collection wines were released earlier this month, the main focus was on the release of a classic 2021 Grange that earned 100 points from some enthusiastic critics. For those not on a Grange budget this is a very worthwhile alternative. Bin 389 is often referred to as ‘Baby Grange’, in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. The blend was first made in 1960 by legendary winemaker Max Schubert. There is plenty of generous flavour here, but also impressive tannin structure. A wine with impressive balance with intriguing layers on the palate. Think richness, dark fruits, supple tannins, and a savoury finish. Grapes from McLaren Vale, Padthaway and the Barossa that spent 12 months in American oak hogsheads (33% new). 96 points from me. You can enjoy this right now (we paired with calves' liver and onions), or cellar for a couple of decades. It has the pedigree. $120. https://www.penfolds.com/

Bremerton 2022 Tamblyn

Meet a serious red wine bargain from Langhorne Creek in South Australia that is ready for immediate enjoyment and is extremely food friendly. The Tamblyn - named after family ancestors from Cornwall - is a blend of 43% cabernet sauvignon, 39% shiraz, 12% malbec and 6% merlot made  by the Willson family. It offers a lot of drinking pleasure for a relative pittance. Soft and stylish with some savoury notes, it is a match for a wide range of dishes. This would be just as happy paired with a barbecue, pizza or pasta dishes as it would with a Sunday roast with all the trimmings. It is a wine that could probably be cellared for a few years - but why bother? $20. https://www.bremerton.com.au/

Tapanappa 2021 Whalebone Vineyard Cabernets Merlot Franc

What a stunning wine this is. It is made from fruit grown on the now 51-year-old Whalebone Vineyard on the Limestone Coast that was identified decades ago by wine industry veteran Brian Croser as "a distinguished site" capable of producing elegant and age-worth reds. It is a classic Bordeaux blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc given an Australian twist with the addition of shiraz. From a "model vintage", this a wine of impressive balance and finesse. French oak barriques (50% new) play key support role in a wine led by cassis flavours and spice that will doubtless age gracefully, but it is already extremely appealing. Only 2,000 cases were made. A steak and kidney casserole proved a wonderful foil. $90. https://tapanappa.com.au/