The New Year is here, and along with it, Winter's chill. To help warm you up we offer a half-dozen hearty, full-flavored Australian red wines. They will pair beautifully with warming Winter fare like venison, stews, osso bucco, slabs of slow-cooked ribs and grilled or roasted red meats. Not only will these wines help you fight off the cold, they are also excellent values.

2004 Cimicky Shiraz "Trumps" $15.99
"A great value, the outstanding 2004 Shiraz Trumps is a 100% Shiraz aged in old wood. It exhibits a dark ruby/purple hue along with a forceful, flamboyant nose of road tar, blackberry and cassis fruit, licorice, and pepper. This opulent, savory, expansive cuvee will provide thrilling drinking over the next 2-3 years. For some reason, this high quality winery never receives the press it merits." —WA 90

2002 Craneford Shiraz Barossa $21.97
Now that this wine has had a little time in bottle it's starting to take on a more earthy, Northern Rhône Côte-Rôtie-esque character. "The gorgeous 2002 Shiraz was aged in 85% French and 15% American oak. Loads of blackberry fruit are found in this opulent, full-bodied, pure, heady (14.7% alcohol) Shiraz. This offering will not be particularly long-lived, but it possesses a pure flavor, good texture, and offers a considerable value." —WA 92

2004 Pillar Box Red Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Blend $8.99
"A fabulous value, this 20,000 case blend, assembled by renowned Barossa winemaker Chris Ringland, is composed of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Shiraz, and 11% Merlot, primarily from young vines. Ringland has rarely worked with such huge quantities, but he kept the wine in tank with a little exposure to American and French oak, bottled it unfined and unfiltered, and finished it with a screw cap. It boasts luscious black currant fruit intermixed with smoke, herbs, and cedar. Richly fruity, opulent, and medium to full-bodied, it is one of the great wine bargains of the world." —WA 90

2002 Oliverhill Grenache McLaren Vale "Bradley Block" $15.97
"Rich in texture and flavor, a deep, ripe, intense mouthful of smoky oak-scented cherry, plum and licorice flavors that keep pulsing through the long finish. Tannins are virtually submerged, but present. Best from 2006 through 2012. 300 cases made." —WS 91

2002 Ross Estate Shiraz Reserve Barossa $29.97
"The most expensive offering in this portfolio is still fairly priced. The dense purple-colored 2002 Shiraz Reserve offers up aromas of chocolate, blackberry liqueur, new saddle leather, and spice box. Powerful, potent, and rich, this full-throttle offering is only the second Reserve cuvee produced by Ross Estate. Aged in 100% American oak hogsheads (15% new) for 18 months, it is an impressive effort." —WA 92

2002 Wyndham Estate Shiraz "Bin 555" $6.47
"Ripe and generous, offering pretty blueberry, licorice and pepper flavors that linger on the fine-grained finish. Drink now through 2008." —WS 86, Best Value