“As we head into winter, we start to turn towards reds. In this edition of On the Vine, the panel sifted through a selection of great value reds and has come up with some absolute crackers. All agreed that this tasting was one of the most hotly contested. It didn’t come as a surprise that most of these wines also featured prominently in Ray Jordan’s WA Wine Review 2026. In fact, the six wines show the incredible strength of the WA wine industry, with high-quality wines coming from many different areas.

The Robert Oatley Finisterre is seven years old and shows how cabernet can develop beautifully with age. The Wise Leaf Series is beautifully opulent and flavoursome from a small region near Perth. One of the most popular value-for-money reds continues to the be the Hamelin Bay Rampant Red, and it’s a terrifically classy wine for drinking over the next few years. The blend of shiraz and cabernet is distinctly Australian, and the Evans & Tate Single Vineyard shows how these varieties sing in perfect harmony. Leeuwin Estate is well known for its premium Art Series range, but the Siblings range continues to punch above its weight. And finally, the Smithbrook shows the quality of a Pemberton pinot.
There’s plenty of great red wine drinking to set you up for the cold days ahead.”

– Ray Jordan

On the vine volume 15 tasting notes

Robert Oatley Finisterre Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 | 95/100

This is a vintage that I have increasingly come to appreciate even more and this stylish medium-bodied cabernet is a perfect reason why. It’s an effortless wine that delivers with such poise. The nose has a slightly meaty blackcurrant character with traces of oyster shell minerality and black olive. The palate is seamlessly integrated with a deft touch of oak and fine powdery tannins holding through to the finish.

Wise Leaf Series Chittering Valley Shiraz 2023 | 93/100

An elegant, yet powerful shiraz that was sourced from the Chittering Valley. The aromas are intense with strong notes of ripe plum and liqueur cherry, with a little dark chocolate. The palate is seamlessly woven together, producing a plush, velvety smooth feel. There’s a subtle thread of ironstone providing balance.

Hamelin Bay Margaret River Rampant Red 2024 | 93/100

A blend of shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, and malbec; this wine consistently delivers excellent value and drinkability. Rich and succulent, with a juicy, fleshy palate, loaded with black fruits and supported by good structure. Has to be consistently one of the best value reds from Margaret River.

Evans & Tate Single Vineyard Shiraz Cabernet 2024 | 96/100

This is a cracking good wine from Evans and Tate’s Redbrook Vineyard, one of the oldest in the heart of the Willyabrup region. It’s a single-vineyard wine, that’s been expertly crafted with a subtle richness of shiraz, and a firm spine of cabernet, harmoniously combining. It was matured in 500-litre puncheons, which seems to have suited the fruit weight and the structure perfectly. Bright red fruits, darker black fruit character in deeper, and a thoroughly seamless and beautifully integrated palate. It’s an excellent wine.

Leeuwin Siblings Shiraz 2024 | 93/100

This is the entry-level shiraz for Leeuwin Estate, and this warmer year seems to have suited it quite brilliantly. It’s medium-bodied, but with generous fruit flavours, fully ripe and well-structured, with fine tannin and subtle oak integration. I let this one breathe for a little while, and it opened up immensely, so there’s a tip for you. A terrific little wine and great fun for current drinking.

Smithbrook Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023 | 93/100

It’s not surprising that a vineyard originally set up to make pinot should make some pretty good pinot. Lots of red fruits, cherry and strawberry on the nose, but then there’s a little underlay of truffly, mushroom-like character. The palate is completely seamless and medium-bodied, with a touch of spice and berry working together. Tannins are fine, the oak lightly applied. Altogether, it makes a very tidy pinot noir.

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