How good does it feel to wear a well-made suit? Add in a perfectly ironed shirt, tie and a polished pair of shoes, voila, you have the complete ensemble. It has to be said that a suit, in all its forms, has a certain sophistication and classiness about it no matter who it is adorning. The wearer is, in most instances, saying ‘I mean business’. They can be both reasonably priced and expensive but, at the end of the day, it comes down to the look, the feel, the confidence it purveys and the sense of satisfaction you get when you are wearing it.

Same can be said of this Mélange of red grape varieties brought together to form this wine. Yes, the bottle has the confident ‘I-mean-business’ air about it, but like a suit, it is what or who is inside that matters. Inside is a sophisticated, classy, yet approachable ensemble that stands tall on the dining table, glistens in its glassware, complements the appropriate fare and satisfies the imbiber. Okay, so it is not as inexpensive as some of the other ‘suits’ on the bottle-shop shelf but, after trying it once, you’ll be reaching for it every time.

Region: Yarra Valley, Vic     Price: $200     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Levantine Hill

Even though this wine is only six years of age, straight off the bat, it has incredible balance. It has quite seductive aromas that prepare you for what the flavours are going to deliver. Richly concentrated black fruits are the leaders while blue fruits chime in to give it a just-above medium bodied weight on the polished palate. The oak is not shy but runs parallel with the intense fruit profile. The tannins, while present, are not intrusive but inclusive to the whole of this wine. But things don’t stop there, oh no! These attributes linger long across the palate for what is an incredibly long time. Not only is does it have incredible length, it has contemplative and enjoyable components all at the same time.