Richard Hamilton Lot 148 Merlot
You know it is Merlot. That’s good. It is plummy, plush and velveteen, soft and easy-going. Textural and delicious with a swagger and balance. There is some big oak here, but great tannin too. “A red wine-drinkers wine”. As savoury as it is sweet and ripe – venison, bramble, charcuterie, fruit coulis. Easy to like. 91pts

Lake Breeze Chapel Road Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Deep colour and similarly dark, black-fruited aromatics. Tobacco, woody herbs, bitter chocolate and violets florals on the nose. Bright, with a green-edged acidity and big grippy tannins. At first the phenolics are edgy, with the tannin not quite in tune with the cedary oak and the cassis-tinged fruit. Better on day 2, with plenty of air through the wine, and showing a dry, lengthy palate and smoother finish. 91pts

Russell & Suitor ‘Franca’s Vineyard’ Grenache 2021
A needly, sharp, pointed edge to the classily perfumed nose here. Cherry, menthol, orange peel, red liquorice, cranberry and spice. Bloody and tart with a zing of acidity and both parts sweet and savoury, dry and lush to the palate. Fabulous tannin, flexible and fine, wrapping around the fruit and with excellent length and texture. 92pts

Peter Lehmann ‘The Pastors Son’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
A Cabernet sauvignon, another modern-classic Barossa wine. A nose that is packed with super ripe fruit, with blackberry and redcurrant in the lead, then chocolate, smoked chorizo, Christmas cake and pencil shavings. Dry, with lovely, svelte tannins and more of that bright, plush fruit bleeding through the palate. Firmly concentrated and persistant, with a sleek texture and an abundance and intensity to the long finish. 93pts