Fine elegant and well structured this balanced and approachable red bend has a fresh briary and slightly confiture-like aroma of blackberries blueberries raspberries cherries and sweet chocolate/vanilla oak with licorice and clove-like undertones. It's vibrant mouthfilling and juicy round and generous delivering a smooth creamy presence on the palate delightfully stuffed with dark fruits and underpinned by fine tannins. It finishes dusty and savoury with meaty elements balanced by sweet oak.

The 2007 Plexus Grenache (28%)-Shiraz (51%)-Mourvedre (21%) was aged for 16 months in predominantly seasoned French oak. It is dark ruby-colored with a perfumed nose of cedar tobacco lavender kirsch and black cherry. Velvety-textured rich and concentrated it is packed with flavor is impeccably balanced and will drink well for a decade. -Jay Miller

Starts off with mulberry cola vanilla and clove and persists that way across the creamy-textured palate. A textbook Aussie blend marrying immediate approachability with 5-8 years of ageability. Another fine effort from former Penfolds winemaker John Duval. J.C.