Translation missing: en.Top Australian Reds of 2025: Top Australian Reds of 2025
Australian Reds
The Wines that Excited us in 2025
Welcome to 2026! We are kickstarting this year with some highlights from 2025 that are worth trying if you haven't already and worth buying again if you already have! This is the final week of the series which we are starting off with the Australian red wines that piqued our attention - stay tuned for the last recap of January!
Mada Wines Poachers Vineyard Shiraz 2024
Hamish Young - founder and chief winemaker, is the guiding force behind Mada. A devoted advocate for the Canberra, Hilltops, and Tumbarumba regions, Hamish is unwavering in his pursuit of elevating these landscapes within Australia’s fine wine narrative. His winemaking journey has taken him across the globe, shaping a personal style defined by depth, precision, and quiet confidence. Each Mada wine reflects years of hands-on experience, Hamish’s experimental spirit, and his enduring commitment to authenticity and excellence. Hamish holds one principle above all others, which is that good wine is born from good people and therefore works with like-minded growers across these regions that he loves and knows so well. This particular wine won the Best Red Wine in Show at the 2025 NSW Wine Awards!
A beautiful example of cool-climate Shiraz from Hamish Young in the Canberra District. Medium bodied, red fruited, bunchy and bright Shiraz. What really struck me about this wine was the balance of flavour and nuance, power and elegance, savoury and fruit. Beautiful. - Chris L
Kin by Alkina Grenache 2024
Alkina are one of the greatest and most interesting producers from Barossa Valley that, despite the increase in popularity in that last couple of years, not enough people have heard of. ‘Alkina’ is an Indigenous Australian girl’s name meaning ‘Moon’ or ‘Moonlight’ which embodies their respect for the land and all the facets of nature that they work with to create these wines. Alkina have carved out a name for themselves in the Western Barossa Ranges with the help of ancient stones and soils, biodynamic viticulture, small scale winemaking and unique micro-terroir wines. The Kin range is the estate's entry-level offering that significantly punches above its weight. We always try to keep this wine on our shelves!
One of the best Best Barossa Valley Grenache that I have tried this year. Fruit for this is sourced from the young vines on the estate and handled with grace. This is an elegant, floral and vibrant Grenache with fine silty tannins. Lighter than what you may expect from Barossa Grenache... A good thing as I think more and more of us are seeking lighter wines. - Pete L
Defialy Candlebark Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Defialy is led by Micah Hewitt, who launched his label in 2020 and soon after took the rare step from purchasing fruit to establishing his own estate, Candlebark Hill in the Macedon Ranges. Two years later he created Domaine Defialy to highlight estate-grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and other varieties from the property. All of the Defialy wines are made with minimal interference in the cellar to produce wines of clarity and cool-climate precision. Micah’s travels through France where his visits to regions like the Jura and Beaujolais continue to inspire and shape the way he works at his small Macedon Ranges vineyard. The wines are creative and varietal, highlighting the character of this elevated, cool-climate Victorian region. This Cabernet delivers loads of varietal character without slipping into green leafiness despite the cool climate. Fantastic stuff.
Organically farmed and estate-grown in the Macedon Ranges, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a cool, low-yielding season that demanded precision and patience. Destemmed and fermented on skins for three weeks before spending 18 months in a mix of new and seasoned Stockinger oak, it shows a lifted perfume of blackcurrant, bay leaf and graphite. The palate is medium-bodied and composed, framed by silky tannins and bright acidity — a refined, cool-climate Cabernet with an old-world sensibility and unmistakable freshness. - Pete L
Hahndorf Hill Blueblood Blaufrankisch 2020
In 2002, Larry Jacobs and Marc Dobson purchased Hahndorf Hill and set about shaping its reputation for innovation and excellence. They saw the potential in the region for cool-climate Austrian varieties such as Gruner Veltliner and Blaufrankisch to flourish here and have become a benchmark for these varieties in Australia. The site is located next to an abandoned slate mine and blue-red slate is a feature of the site along with ironstone intrusions within a sandy-loam and red-clay matrix, overlying deep red clay subsoils. This mineral complexity contributes directly to the structure and minerality of the Hahndorf Hill wines. These wines really impressed us when we tasted them recently so we had to get some back in!
A modern lighter take on the traditional styles of full-bodied red from South Australia. The fruit-weight and flavours of cherry and blackberry remain, but gone is the big alcohol and oak. And you even gain some fresh spice and acidity interest. 13.5% alc. A new take to interest drinkers of traditional styles. - Michael L
Elanto Vineyards Pinot Noir 2024
Elanto started as a venture between Sandro Mosele and Tony Todaro who met at a French wine tasting and instantly connected. They were both interested in working with a high-density vineyard with an easterly aspect and well-drained soils conducive to deep roots. They found this wonderful site in Balnarring with a southeast aspect and volcanic soils and with the help of French soil scientist - Claude Bourguignon, were convinced of the potential of this site to produce spectacular, distinctive wines. These wines keep getting better with each release and it's easy to see why there is so much hype around this project. Try it for yourself!
Unbelieveable complexity for such a young vineyard. From the 5 lieu-dits of the Elanto vineyard - a close-planted, low-yielding vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula—tempered by cool maritime breezes—this Pinot Noir opens with lifted red cherry, wild strawberry and cranberry, layered with rose petal, subtle spice and a gentle earthy note. The palate is fine-boned yet persistent, with concentrated red fruit wrapped in silky, well-knit tannins and a bright acid line that carries length. A faint mineral thread underscores the finish, giving poise and definition to an elegant, site-driven Mornington expression. - Chris L