The addition of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon leads to a very different wine from others in the Dutschke stable. Medium bodied and with savoury nuances, this is an adaptable food wine; in all the right ways. A rack of lamb would suit it down to the ground. -JP

The Glaymond wines are sourced from the Tscharke family vineyards established in 1961. Damien Tscharke is after warmth, richness and varietal character and so far his wines are capturing those attributes very well. The Mataro, although contributing a smaller percentage to the final product, is crucial to the success of this wine. -JP

This wine is a great new offering from South Australian Wine Maker Sandy Godfrey. The colour is dark rich red with a purple rim. The nose shows layers of spicy plum and dark cherry aromas with hints of pomegranate, violets and blueberry. The wine is medium bodied and softly textured with great fruit intensity. The complementary richness of ripe Shiraz and the refinement of elegant Cabernet Sauvignon parcels provide an amazing array of classic fruit flavours which cover the length of the palate. The Tempranillo component adds a lively savoury edge and some excellent complexity and structure that linger nicely on the palate. This is a well balanced wine that will appeal to lovers of rich Australian reds. A great match with a variety of Mediterranean and Australian red meat dishes. -CE

A soft, slurpable, yet elegant wine featuring star varieties, all playing their role in a first class performance. A lively fragrant viognier nose reaches from the glass and the elegant power of Shiraz and Grenache draw you closer to the personality of this glorious drink. Traditional rich palate flavours evolve from the shiraz dominance, yet the palate is mid weight, and expresses a long, lingering finish. -DD

Jamsheed Sylvan Syrah is an example of the “new bred” of cool climate Syrahs. Jamsheed’s Gary Mills uses techniques such as carbonic maceration and whole bunch pressing to provide vibrancy and perfume, melded with dark fruit and savoury nuances. The result is a complex, layered wine that still maintains an air of elegance and finesse. -FW

This is one of the best shirazes I have seen in a long time. No over-extracted/over-alcoholic/over-the-top Barossa monsters here. Luke’s wines are carefully crafted using Burgundian techniques that usually are applied to Pinot Noir such as whole bunch pressing. The result is a wine with vibrancy, finesse and elegance and deliciously perfumed fruit seamlessly melded with savoury, smoked charcouterie nuances.
By the way the Reserve is a more intense/complex version with an extra year under its belt. -FW

The Roaring 90s six-pack has been selected with an eye for value – great wine for well under $20 a bottle.

Each wine has received a rating of 90 points or more by James Halliday and a strong endorsement from the Purple Palate Tasting Panel.

The only palate that really matters though is yours – so take the leap.

Save 25% today. Only $85

Our mixed six selection includes:

- Chapman Grove Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (90 Points)
- Smallfry Eden Valley Riesling 2009 (95 Points)
- Dreaming Dog Dry White Chardonnay 2006 (90 Points)
- Loose End GSM 2006 (93 Points)
- Domain Barossa Black Tongue Shiraz 2008 (90 Points)
- Laughing Jacks Shiraz 2008 (93 Points)

Wow – what power on the nose, what depth in the glass. The first thing that strikes you when you decant Grange is its power. Whether it be 5, 10, 15 or 20 years old, it has an air of strength about it, and an opaqueness in its colour. I open a lot of Grange – around 300 bottles a year in Corporate Boardrooms all over Australia. Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to taste most vintages of Grange, save some of the early 50s.



The 2005 vintage is yet again, a cracking wine. The nose is rich, and filling – a smooth combination of dark ripe berries and rhubarb, along with the nutmeg, coconut character of quality American oak. The palate is laced with a royal touch of fruit sweetness, with fine, dense tannins offering years of life ahead. The power of predominantly Kalimna Shiraz shows through, but not in a clunky, chunky, syrupy way. This is an elegant young wine, yet full of power. It is surprisingly easy to enjoy young, which is not the norm for these wines on release. The 05 Grange consists of 95.9% Shiraz, and the remainder Cab Sauv – which is pretty standard, and works very well indeed. The finish is long, and very persistent, as is the aroma in the empty glass. This is my 2nd tasting of this wine in the past month or so, and I predict it will continue to turn heads for many years to come. -DD