JM 1ST APPROACH

Blood plum, nuts, licorice and some chocolate on a middle weight palate that delivers plenty of flavour along with attractive chewiness and freshness. The length is particularly impressive and closes with a desirable Italianate bitterness, like chicory or similar. Is it the best release of Gran Sasso to date? I suspect so. I defy you to find a more interesting, savoury wine with modest alcohol and food friendliness at the price. If you do, please let me know. It’s ever so slightly better than a 90 point wine ... Rated : 91 Points Winefront

This not just a triumph for the tough 2011 vintage, it’s a wine of beauty, alluring internal harmony and inherent balance. I didn’t expect to like it much at all,

but I found it nothing less than compellingly, gloriously enticing.

94 points Tyson Tselzer

WOW, power and intensity from the west. From the area renowned for cabernet sauvignon, shiraz lives in the shadows, but should never be ignored. Earthy, tobacco and dark fruits give this wine a brooding intensity. Juicy blackberry and plum, coffee and dry, intensely gripping tannin add some real punch. Firm, youthful and very bold, this is attractive on many levels. This is worth finding. Value: Excellent Food: Roast beef Rating: 4/5 Tony Love

the ultimate weekday refreshing red (don’t quote me on that). Red fruit, blood plum, black jellybean with a subtle nut and dried herb flavour. It’s fresh and balanced with fine dry tannin and a good clean finish. Drinks beautifully and has that bit of Nero d’Avola charisma as a point of difference. Rated : 90 Points Winefront.com.au

Another impressive import with bags of bright personality that begs for food. WiningPom

Decent, quaffable pinot noir for under $20? It's almost impossible to find but this terrific value import from the south of France manages it ... “the best French Pinot Noir outside of Burgundy” .... It's on the riper side of the pinot spectrum, certainly no shrinking violet, but no brash bogan either. The (French) girl next door with smoothness, dark cherry fruit flavours, hints of earthiness and plenty of length. Windsor Dobbin

A bright brick red colour with crimson highlights. The palate is complex and alluring, combining dark berry fruit and blueberries with underbrush and hints of chocolate and toasted coffee. The palate is rich and fruit driven with Barbera’s vibrant berry flavours matched by the savoury tobacco leaf and fine tannins of Nebbiolo.

A 'mini' Barolo, for this price? Unbelievable ... yet true. Stock up, I have! Gavin Trott

The finest vintage for Mike Press Sauvignon yet? No question .... exuberant and flamboyant fruit reminiscent of lime zest, guava, frangipane and rockmelon. As crunchy and fresh as ever, with impressive length and balance that comes from vines that have now reached their teen years. 91 points Tyson Tselzer

 It’s an awesomely fresh and lively wine, indisputably sauvignon blanc, but the exuberant fruit has a real “feelgood” factor. It’s a crisp, crunchy, dry young wine with green citrus, gooseberry and guava flavours;  ... Wine of the Week Windsor Dobbin