Tempus Two 2003 Merlot - Tesco £12.99 (June 2005)

The grapes came from mature vines in the Barossa Valley in South Australia. The winemaker is Lisa McGuigan who has produced a number of wines under the Tempus Two label. The wine is medium bodied and has some soft plummy fruit with a twist of spice complimented by tannins adding some firmness. There is a reasonable flavour of vanilla and oak due to the wine being matured in barriques for 12 months. Overall the wine failed to impress (apart from the fancy pewter label and bottle design) as I found the flavours to be rather ordinary and restrained.

Drinking now but can keep for up to 4 years.

Wolf Blass Presidents Selection Shiraz 2001 - Widely Available £11.99

The grapes for this wine have been sourced from premium regions across South Australia and underwent 16 months maturation in oak barrels. A fine example of a premium quality wine exhibiting lots of juicy pronounced fruit and lovely sweet oak. The sweet, peppery shiraz character leaps out of the glass and is exceptionally smooth.

Drinking now or can be cellared for 2-3 years.

If you cannot part with £12 then I can recommend the immensely enjoyable Wolf Blass Yellow Label cabernet sauvignon for £8.

Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz 2001 - Oddbins £20

This is the next rung on the quality ladder from the Presidents selection. The grapes for this were sourced from low yielding vineyards throughout the Barossa floor and Eden Valley and were gently pressed and underwent 18 months maturation in new oak barrels.

An elegant, soft and refined wine that exhibits quality winemaking with plenty of spicy and blackberry fruit and a touch of smokey oak. Overall a nice wine, but I don't think that it quite justifies its price tag.

Drinking now or can be cellared for 4-6 years.