Juicy blackcurrant, plum and mulberry sit at the centre of this Barossa Valley, South Australia red blend. Pepper, licorice and a little gamey earth add savoury interest, while the palate feels fruit-driven, dry and energetic. Firm acidity and noticeable tannin give it enough grip for grilled meats, especially when the dark berry fruit has a little air.

From a single vineyard cloned from one lone 'mother' vine found in the Old Garden vineyard planted in 1853, the Hewiston Monopole Shiraz is a delicious drop; smooth and supple, with an intensity of bright fruit resulting from partial whole bunch; blackberries, black cherries and blueberries, complete with notes of herbal leaf, oolong tea and vanilla. The palate is smooth - a feature of all of Dean's wines - but with a slightly saline edge, savoury intensity midway, and structural acidity. The wine is long, with a decidedly grippy finish, and whilst drinking beautifully now will repay time in the cellar. Score - 98. (Melissa Moore, winepilot.com, undated)