Saturated with inky-dark garnet red, this Clare Valley shiraz oozes classic cocoa, prune, pepper and blackberry characters. Hearty, ribsticking and velvet-smooth, this is a plump, plush, buxom example that'll have you rooting around in your freezer for home-kill and the pantry for your crockpot.
Sip with sticky lamb shanks and polenta.
Distributed by mthillary.com.
Swan's Flight Marlborough Semillon 2013 $18.50
Crafted by Georges Michel's winemaker daughter, Swan, this is a superb "cheese board" wine for those late afternoon lounge-arounds. Toasted, smoky notes indicate a touch of barrel fermentation across freshly baled hay, dried herbs and soft, lemony, limey flavours.
Sip with a chunk of sheep's milk pecorino or tangy goat's cheese.
Yvonne Lorkin is a wine retailer, wine writer and member of the Wine Writers of NZ.