THE GREAT AUSSIE CLARET COMEBACK

Two super-premium wines launched this month hark back to the days of Aussie “claret”, a medium-bodied, firm-finish cabernet blend. The 2013 Vasse Felix “Tom Cullity” ($160), an elegant assemblage of Margaret River cabernet, malbec and petit verdot, is named after the estate’s founder, the first person to plant a commercial vineyard in the region, 50 years ago. And the 2012 Yalumba “The Caley” ($350), named after a scion of the winery’s founding family, is a fine, cellarworthy blend of cabernet and shiraz from Coonawarra and the Barossa. vassefelix.com.au; yalumba.com