Mainly consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Merlot, the 2009 The Blend was matured in seasoned oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it has intense aromas of creme de cassis, warm blueberries, cinnamon stick and menthol. Full bodied, ripe and rich on the palate, it offers a medium level of fine grained tannins and a long finish. Drink it now to 2017+. Note that as in 2008, no Duck Muck was produced in 2009.Importer: Rathbone Wine Imports, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 253-8332; www.fsfw.com.au

The entry level 2006 The Blend is composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot (although the percentages can fluctuate from year to year). Purple-colored, it offers an expressive bouquet of cedar, spice box, black currants and blackberry. This leads to a full-bodied, concentrated, dense wine with enough structure to evolve for 4-6 years. Layered and long, it will be at its best from 2012 to 2026. David “Duck” Anderson continues to lead the way in Heathcote. All of his wines come from estate vineyards with yields of under 1.5 tons of fruit per acre.No known American importer. www.wildduckcreekestate.com

David “Duck” Anderson is the resident guru at Wild Duck Creek Estate. His lineup begins with the 2005 The Blend, composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. It offers attractive aromas of spicy black currant and blackberry followed by an intensely flavored, spicy, well-balanced wine with excellent depth and length. It will evolve for several years and drink well through 2020. Importer: No American importer; no web site located.

The 2004 The Blend, a Bordeaux-like combination of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot and Cabernet Franc, exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, crisp, elegant acidity, and a stylish, restrained, understated style that is completely dissimilar to David Anderson’s extroverted personality. Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (888) 472-5283