Gismondi scores the Heartlands

93/100    Heartland Directors' Cut Shiraz 2003
Limestone Coast & Langhorne Creek, South Australia
Heartland Directors' Cut celebrates the pruning or cutting that results in low yields. Eventually the best selection of that low yielding fruit ends up in the Directors' Cut - presumably Heartland's directors need something good to drink around the boardroom table. The 70/30 blend of Limestone Coast /Langhorne Creek shiraz is aged in both French and American oak. This is succulent shiraz with floral coffee, mocha, black fruit flavours streaked with savoury licorice and pepper. Love the slippery tannins and balance. Serious red, great value.

91/100    Heartland Shiraz 2004
Langhorne Creek & Limestone Coast, South Australia
From the 'magic' 2004 vintage, this Heartland red defines winemaker Ben Glaetzer's style. Look for a big chewy red with sweet chocolate and black fruit flavours that do not quit. The fruit is a mix of 68% Langhorne Creek and 32% Limestone Coast all finished in French oak for 16 months. The mix of ripe fruit with its cool minty tobacco undertones keep you coming back to the glass for more. Terrific value.

90/100    Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Langhorne Creek & Limestone Coast, South Australia
The Heartland cabernet is a mix of Langhorne Creek (55) and Limestone Coast (45). Look for big sour minty cherry fruit and mocha undertones in what is a brawny bold red with stylistic links to Coonawarra. Bring on the steaks.

90/100    Heartland Viognier Pinot Gris 2005
Langhorne Creek, South Australia
What a great surprise. This is delicious vibrant, eminently drinkable Oz viognier without any of those overpowering perfumed cloying flavours that can clog up the palate. This 100 per cent Langhorne Creek white does contain a magic ingredient - 22 per cent pinot gris. Each of the varieties is vinified separately and picked over three harvest dates to provide a spectrum of flavour components. It's cool fermented with some lees contact and bottled early for maximum freshness. It is a kaleidoscope of fresh fruit flavours you should not miss.