A staple favourite for many a wine list. Giddy up. New and used French and American oak for 18 months.

d’Arenberg, The Footbolt Shiraz, McLaren Vale 2013

Fruit full nose pf plum syrup and Cherry Ripe bar. Some dark lines that I’ve seen in the d’Arry shirazes before: a slatey, brooding element that sets this apart from your average sub $20 shiraz. Ripe red fruits still sing deliciously, it never resorts to being uncouth, nor does the oak dominate. Good value buying here, for now and even medium term cellaring.

RRP: $18

Alc: 14.4%

Wine sample courtesy of d’Arenberg