Rewarding Reds and Roses

Babich 'Irongate' Gimblett Gravels Hawke's Bay Cabernet Merlot Franc 2013 $35
Cabernet can be a tough variety to ripen in New Zealand, but the great conditions of the 2013 vintage in Hawkes Bay have resulted in some lovely cabernets and cabernet-dominant wines. This great example is muscular but elegant with a brooding, concentrated palate of dark berry fruit, notes of cocoa and licorice and ripe supple tannins. From Glengarry, Caro's.

Trapiche 'Broquel' Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina 2012 $20.99
There are some fantastic rich reds coming out of South America at sharp prices and this velvety, voluptuous example could have been included in the bargain buys category, it offers such great value drinking. It's packed with rich ripe berry fruit reminiscent of cassis liqueur that's dusted with roasted spice, dark chocolate and a suggestion of violets. Available in all fine wine stores.

Unison Gimblett Gravels Hawke's Bay Syrah 2012 $52
Svelte and spicy, this classy syrah from Gimblett Gravels is silky and fresh, with notes of red plum and white pepper, and possesses nice concentration. From Wine Direct, The Wine Barrel, Fine Wine Delivery Company, Caro's, Brown's Bay Liquor.

Stonecroft Gimblett Gravels Hawke's Bay 'Serine' Syrah 2013 $31
Another excellent wine from the 2013 vintage. This seriously good syrah from the second label of this pioneering estate is tightly knit and deeply fruited with notes of juicy black plum, leather and fragrant sweet spice and black pepper. From Caro's, Wine Direct, Point Wines, Liquor Quay, The Merchant of Taupo.

Yalumba Paradox North Barossa Shiraz, Australia 2010 $29.95
A promising debut of a new Yalumba label from this great Australian vintage. Sourced from the cooler northern part of the Barossa Valley, along with the dense, ripe, soft, supple, dark berry fruit laced with licorice spice you'd expect from this classic warmer shiraz region, there's some lovely restraint and freshness to this example and a relatively moderate 13.5 per cent alcohol. From New World Remuera, Fine Wine Delivery Company.

Domaine Treloar 'Motus' Mourvedre Cotes de Roussillon, France 2012 $36
There's a Kiwi connection to this up-and-coming Southern French domaine, as it's owned by New Zealander Rachel Treloar and her partner, Jonathan Hesford. Their wines have started to turn heads, such as this seductively soft mourvedre with its concentrated dark berry fruit over notes of savoury, spice and stone. From Scenic Cellars, The Hamilton Beer & Wine Company, Maison Vauron, Wine & More, Herne Bay Cellars, Point Wines, Fish Bone.

Spade Oak Vineyard 'Voysey' Gisborne Rosé 2014 $18.50
This appealing tempranillo rosé is verging on a light red, but still offers plenty of pink appeal. Wafts of rose and honeysuckle cross its perfumed palate over juicy strawberry and cherry fruit and a fresh citrus lift. From Liquorland Albany, Primo Vino, Liquorland Gisborne, spadeoak.co.nz