Silky and focused, Serrat Close Planted Pinot Noir is a savoury and complex style, possessing impressively concealed intensity. Serrat is the family label of renowned winemaker Tom Carson and his wife Nadège. The fruit comes of the estates small holding in Yarra Glen and is hand picked and destemmed into small open fermenters with a percentage of whole fruit included. The wine is gently pressed to predominantly older 500 L French puncheons for maturation.

Undoubtedly one of the best value Pinots on the market. Bright cherry aromas on the nose, De Bortolis Windy Peak Pinot Noir is light to medium bodied with a hint of violet and juicy cherries on the palate. High acidity well balanced with subtle dusty oak, which leaves an impressive lingering finish. And outstanding summer drink at a modest price!

An excellent new discovery from the home of Pinot the Yarra Valley. In the glass: Medium garnet. On the nose: Blood plum, red cherry and clove with tilled earth and tea leaf notes. On the palate: Medium weight and savoury with a fine tannin backbone underpinning the refined core of red and black fruit. Finishes with earthy spice adding complexity to the persistent finish. An elegant wine that really unfolds in the glass.

This superb Pinot Noir shows what heights can be reached when modestly priced wines are produced in outstanding vintages. Expect a red and dark cherry fragrance with a hint of spice. It's light bodied with earthy flavours of red berries delivered with finesses one of the finest producers of the 'Fronsac' appellation. Predominantly Merlot, there's supreme depth of dark fruit, together with the 'polished' structure so synonymous with the 2012 vintage.

Hoddles Creek 1er Pinot Noir is the flagship red from the Yarra Valley darlings. The 1er range stands as a benchmarknot just for the exemplary Hoddles Creek portfolio, but for the Yarra contemporary Yarra wine landscape. Every vintage, winemaker Franco dAnna assesses the fruit grown in the SRM block of his Top Paddock vineyard. If he judges it worthy, a vintage of 1er Pinot Noir goes into production. With 20-25% whole bunch, fruit purity is the goal. Aged in up to 35% new oak, it is bright with red fruit and a deep Burgundian heart. Hoddles Creek is considered by many to be one of the best (and the best value) wineries in the Yarra. This is its top shelf white. Drink now, or cellar with confidence.

2014 is the inaugural release of Colleens Paddock Pinot Noir. It features a restrained, brooding and beguiling nose with hints of cranberry, sour cherry, wild raspberry, earth, stalks and charry oak. The aristocratic palate weaves an uncommon melange of toffee fruits, herbal flavours and savoury elements through fine, integrated tannins and delivers an elegant, luscious, velvety mouth feel. It combines lightness with richness and density with great length and persistence of flavour.

From Kate Goodman's team, who already bring us the wonderful Punt Rd range, this second label perpetuates their well deserved reputation. This is a soft, fruit driven Pinot from sites around the Yarra Valley. It offers great complexity at this price.

In the glass: Vibrant mid-red. On the nose: Sweet cherry and raspberry fruit with notes of stalk and spice - so beautifully perfumed. On the palate: Vibrant and fresh, supple and juicy with ripe cherry and plum varietals, subtle stalky complexity, warm earthy notes, nicely integrted vanillin oak and savoury persistence. A complete wine - powerful yet refined, complex and layered with full Pinot Noir charm on show.