Rockford "Basket Press" Shiraz 2004
McLaren Vale, South Australia $71.95 (736488)
Always popular and for good reason, this is one of the most elegant Shirazes to come out of Australia. It offers a mélange of dark fruit and berry flavours that are ripe and sweet without a hint of jamminess. The texture is vibrant and the tannins are fine and sweet. This is a terrific drop that's drinking well now and will improve over the next five years. (RP)

d'Arenberg Cadenzia GSM 2004
McLaren Vale, South Australia $24.95 (661587)
Big, bold and beautiful, this is full of dense black fruit and is impressive in its complexity. They've got the blend just right here. The texture is smooth, the tannins are sweet, and the finish is a long experience of complex fruit. (RP)

DeBortoli Pinot Noir 2003
Yarra Valley, Victoria $39.95 (10744)
This is a substantial Pinot Noir in a definitive New World style. Look for concentrated fruit, notably sweet cherry, with herbal and spicy accents. It's all wrapped in a plush texture with an attractive edge, and finishes with spicy dark fruit. Pour it alongside a plate of grilled duck breast or lamb chops. (RP)

d'Arenberg "Sticks and Stones" Tempranillo-Grenache-Souzão 2004
McLaren Vale, South Australia $29.95 (685909)
A blend of three Iberian grape varieties (Souzão is one of the less-known Port grapes), this delivers rich flavours of plum, blackberry, and mulberry with some raisiny, spicy and earthy notes. It has an attractive tangy texture and good tannins, and goes very well with well-seasoned grilled lamb. (RP)

DeBortoli "Noble One" Botrytis Semillon 2003
Riverina, New South Wales $29.95/375ml (917252)
A regular in Vintages, and always a popular arrival. Look for rich, honeyed apricot and peach flavours wrapped in a softly viscous texture. A good seam of acidity cuts through the sweetness and makes this a wonderful partner for sweet, fruit-based desserts. (RP)

Mesh Riesling 2005
Eden Valley, South Australia $30.95 (627877)
A delicious dry Riesling that delivers concentrated and focused fruit with crisp and zesty acidity. Look for flavours of pear and sweet apple with a seam of white grapefruit, and pair this with lightly spicy grilled seafood. (RP)

Thorn-Clarke "Shotfire Ridge Quartage" 2004
Barossa Valley, South Australia $27.00
This elegant, rich red is a blend of five Bordeaux varieties (only the Carmenère is missing). It's in a clear New World style that's fruit-dominant, but it's well structured and complex and very well balanced for food. Look for concentrated dark fruit and berry flavours, firm tannins and a rich fruit finish. (RP)