Merlot this good is a real treat and when you add a touch of Shiraz and Mataro, and then make it into a sparkling... there is little surprise that the result is just awesome. Violets and plums dominate the nose, along with subtle Shiraz Blackberry and spice. The palate is balanced perfectly without too much sweetness and a clean finish that allows it to be consumed as it is, sitting with friends or in front of a roaring fire. - SG

Winemaker Rob Gibson has made a name for himself through his Merlot and Shiraz, but just quietly, I reckon he's a bit of dab hand when it comes to Pinot Gris too. This one is nutty and spicy with brown pears and little bit of canned lychees in syrup. The mineral spine is impressive and the acidity is spot on. There's some baking spice and almonds on a sweetish finish that is tempered by notes of citrus and slate. Balanced and structured, this versatile wine should have many fans. -JP

Loose End Wines are always this good, full of carefully crafted varietal fruit and well balanced, easy drinking palates. This Eden Valley Riesling shows lifted lime rind and melon tropical fruits as well as concentrated limestone. The minerality intensifies across the palate and melds well with crisp citric acidity and a touch of sweetness. - SG

In Rob Gibson’s own words, ‘this is a fun wine that is all about fresh fruit and drinkability.’ Rob has created that and more in this approachable and easy to drink Barossa white, made up to Frontignac, Semillon and Riesling. There is just the right amount of fruit and acid to follow on from the fresh aromatic nose. Don’t think too seriously about this one, it is just serious value and great flavour. - SG

Winemaking veteran Rob Gibson uses his Loose End brand to produce innovative wines that certainly punch above their price points with varietal definition, and personality in the glass. This highly-rated GSM (and that’s M for Merlot, in this case) offers a delightful array of cherries and mixed spices. - DD

Here is another fine example of Barossa Shiraz. The wine has been Co-fermented with 4% Viognier in open fermenters and matured for 14 months in second use oak barrels of various origin. From a reasonably low yielding year this Shiraz is a finer style wine with some good spicy characters. The colour is a dense dark red with a purple hue and the nose is showing fragrant lifted smokey bacon and spicy Shiraz aromas. Bursting with dark fruit flavours and well balanced with soft velvet tannins the finish shows some complex spicy pepper and hung meat notes that linger nicely on the palate. -CE