Best of the Black Market Unwrapped : Mixed Edition

This is Barossa shiraz with brains as well as brawn - nothing overdone, just flavour that feels both powerful and controlled. Smoothness, complexity and depth all wrapped up in a velvety package. There’s opulence, fruit weight, fine tannins and a hell of a long finish on this one. Halliday’s already dropped 95 points on it - we’ll just say it straight: this is utterly delicious. Classic single vineyard Barossa shiraz made from old vines on the western ridge of the valley. Plum, mulberry and clove jump out of the glass upon first whiff. The palate expands even further with vanilla, liquorice, dark chocolate and graphite. The mix of seasoned American and French oak in the maturation has given rise to a mix of sweet spices, vanilla bean and roasted coffee notes that accentuate the high-toned fragrance of the already beautiful shiraz fruit from some seriously kick ass growers. Shiraz lovers, eat your heart out.

Reviewers all over the country, and even the world are raving about this Coonawarra drop and called it one of the best value cabs you could find. And that was before we popped up this incredible deal. With chocolate, blackberries, tobacco leaves and perfectly polished tannins, this is the cab sauv you've been waiting years for. Silky tannins, impressive length and seriously phenomenal flavour set this Coonawarra cab sauv apart from the pack. Add in some notes of chocolate, blackberries, aniseed, mint, ripe plums and spices and you've got a rare drop that drinks so beautifully you won't want to share it. Campbell Mattinson sang its praises and said, "This is as solid as they come. In fact it’s better than that. It’s straight into no-brainer territory: the price and the quality are definitely in the buyer’s favour here" - and that's before our discount! With impressive cellaring potential of a couple of decades this is a wine and deal that's not to be missed.

This bloke's a bit of a legend in the Barossa, he lets the fruit do the talking... lucky for us his fruit is pretty much as good as it gets. This Marananga-sourced grenache is looking gorgeous before you've even lifted it to your nose. From there, forget about it - you're in for quite the ride here, time to chuck your seatbelt on. This is a pretty-smelling little thing that packs a bigger punch than its delicate appearance would have you believe. Cherries and wild strawberry lead with raspberry, lifted by citrus blossom and gingerbread notes. Rose petals float through with exotic spice, a slight savouriness, earthy undertones and distant sarsaparilla glimpses building complexity. Seductive doesn't begin to cover these aromatics - they're genuinely captivating. Then the palate arrives telling a similar story but with completely different tone. Spices take control here. That prettiness and delicacy step aside as grip and concentration charge forward. Savoury tannins persist, elevating red fruit to new levels of complexity. Airy and spacious with vivid minerally tension and chalky, savoury sour cherry character flowing through. Explosive right now but built to age gracefully over a decade-plus. Your choice.

Drink : Now - 2027

GSM - the ‘Holy Trinity’ of South Aussie reds. It’s the simple, but pleasing harmony of the blend that is nearly better than the sum of its parts. This is a ripe and succulent red that shows off the best of all three varieties. Grenache brings red berries, plums and a bit of warmth. Shiraz adds spice and acid. And then mataro contributes a wonderfully floral nose and its famous inky colour. This is a solid and tasty version of the blend, sure to please fans of the style

This comes from one of Tasmania's best producers - genuine elite territory. Small operation means limited production, which translates to genuinely hard-to-get bottles. When you find them, you grab them. We've got stone fruit and citrus zest rolling through a creamy, nutty base - all carried by that trademark Tassie acidity that keeps it crisp and focused. One that's just a worthy of analysis as it is of pure, unthinking enjoyment!

Drink : Now - 2030

This vivacious pinot gris showcases both the depth and aromatic firepower that the variety's capable of when it's handled right. This isn't just your every day fruit-bomb, there's proper substance here alongside all that gorgeous aromatics - fantastic stuff. The palate is beautifully textured, thanks to a good chunk of time on lees in barrel, creating layers of stone fruit and nougat that give it serious presence. Persistent phenolics provide length and structure, elevating this well beyond your typical easy-drinking pinot gris into something with genuine complexity and staying power. This is pinot gris with body, character and enough texture to make you pay attention. The kind that pairs brilliantly with food but drinks just as well on its own when you want something with a bit more grunt than your average white.