• A beginner's guide to wine collecting

Australia's famous age-worthy reds seem to get more expensive every year. But if you're a young wine-lover eager to start a cellar, where do you begin? Rule 1 is that plenty of reds reward cellaring yet don't cost the earth. Rule 2 is that cellaring wine doesn't mean locking it up for 20 years and throwing away the key. Most reds are marketed very young, perhaps too young, and even a few years can make a significant difference to textural softness and flavour complexity. Here are three affordable reds to help start your cellar. Tip: buy several bottles of each, six if you can.

Serafino Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, McLaren Vale $24-$28

Score 95

This is pinch-me-I'm-dreaming stuff. An outstanding, multiple-gold-medal cabernet at less than $30. Deep, colour, cedar, violet and blackberry aromas with a high note of fresh herbs, the palate rich and fruit-sweet with ample soft tannins and fleshy texture. Very smart and great value. Screw-cap; 14.5 per cent alcohol.

Ageing? Drinks well now and will cellar to 20+ years.

Stockists include Kemeny's, Bondi (NSW); The Wine House, Melbourne (Vic).

Epsilon Shiraz 2016, Barossa Valley $20

Score 95

The label is fairly new but the owners are fifth-generation grape growers. This is astounding value from a very small outfit. Plummy fruit-driven aromas, coupled with subtle spices and smoky oak, the palate deep, rich and full-bodied, with drive and power. Screw-cap; 14.8 per cent alcohol.

Ageing? Drink now to 12+ years.

Stockists include Annandale Cellars (NSW); Nick's Fine Wines (Vic).

Tscharke Gnadenfrei Marananga Shiraz 2016, Barossa Valley $20-$35

Score 93

This has very intense sweet raspberry aromas, fresh and fruit-forward, while the taste is intense and bright, fresh and balanced, and cast in a more elegant style for Barossa shiraz. Outstanding value at $20 ex-winery, more in a bottle shop. Screw-cap; 14.5 per cent alcohol.

Ageing? Drink any time now to 15+ years.

Stockists include Vintage 72, Rosanna (Vic); Liquor Emporium, Alexandria (NSW); tscharke.com.au.