This volume of On The Vine has been selected from Ray Jordan’s Top 100 Reds of 2025. Explore varietals from various regions across Australia and sip slowly while you enjoy these handpicked delights.

“Through the various price points, we’ve got exceptional wines that are showing just how good Australian red wine-making is currently. These wines also show us that the vintages in recent times have been very kind. In Western Australia, it was the ‘23 vintage which still stands out as one of the greatest vintages this state has seen. It was so good to see so many of these great ‘23s still available.

On the East Coast we’ve got some very smart red wines. Shiraz in particular out of South Australia from the ‘21 was an exceptional vintage and the ‘22 has also turned out to be a very good vintage in that State. In Victoria, there were also some very, very nice wines, particularly pinot noir, and these came from the ‘24 vintage, which was quite exceptional for the Yarra Valley.”

On the vine volume 12 tasting notes

Faber vineyard Riche Shiraz 2023 | 94/100

This has been a wonderful wine from Griffiths, sourced from the Swan Valley. And in a year like this, it’s reached a new level in lithe vibrancy and energy, expressing all the virtues of this region when the season is right. Colour radiates with bright crimson red hues, while the aromas reveal an intense raspberry and plummy nuance. The palate is vibrant and medium-bodied, with a jubey, delicious red fruit flavour, augmented with some nice oak treatment.

Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Merlot 2023 | 93/100

One of the best cabernet merlots released under this label yet. Loaded with plush fruit that flows seamlessly through a smoothly structured palate. Ripe, sweet fruit, delivered with medium intensity and showing just a trace of oyster shell minerality. Bright and bursting with energy.

De Bortoli Phi Lusatia Park Pinot Noir 2024 | 96/100

This is a fabulous wine from a vineyard in the Yarra Valley that produces wonderfully expressive, site-specific fruit. The aromas are a mix of sour cherry and lifted violet. That’s a great start, but it gets better with a palate that is both powerful and refined, with a piercingly chalky acidity defining a long, precise and intense finish.

Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 | Score: 96/100

An impressive cabernet sauvignon from a season which produced wines of power and volume, with a firm structure. This is all of that. The typical blackcurrant aromas are augmented with sweet plummy nuances. The palate is tightly framed with firm tannins and a decent oak influence from the 40% new French oak contribution. The colour is bright and almost luminous. A wine of energy and vibrancy. If you are looking for great value in cellaring, then this baby is right on the mark.

Cherubino Ovale Block 7 Shiraz 2023 | 96/100

It was a tough task to separate this wine from the final four, but as this is such an exceptional wine it had to be done. The wine shows just how good Frankland River can be for this variety, while demonstrating a very modern expression of Australian shiraz. This has to be high on your shopping list.

Devil’s Corner Pinot Noir 2024 | 92/100

This little corner of Tasmania has been an absolute winner for Brown Brothers since they bought the property many years ago. Lovely bright red fruits, with a combination of cherry and red fruit raspberry, with a decent sprinkling of spices and a slightly savoury finish. It’s light to medium-bodied, but well-structured with great length and poise. This is a great example of what Tasmania can do with pinot noir.

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