The guiding principles of blending are the achievement of harmony and consistency. The White Foil blend is traditionally composed from around 80 still base wines, drawn from different vineyard sites (crus), grape varieties and vintage years. The blend contains approximately one third of each three grape varieties of Champagne. Pinot Noir contributes body, depth of character and life extending tannins, Pinot Meunier adds youthful freshness, vigour and plump fruit character while Chardonnay gibes lightness, elegance and firmness.

At Mount Mary they aim to make a Chardonnay of great length that is able to reach a balance between complexity & finesse. Unashamedly Burgundian in concept, local Yarra Valley practices are employed to fully express the unique terroir, including the wine not going through Malolactic fermentation as Mount Mary's cool-climate leaves the fruit with ideal acidity when picked. Matured in 20% new French barriques with the remainder in older barrels and large casks and along with grape solids, this is a Chardonnay of impressive texture and complexity.

Bollinger Special Cuvee is the result of the delicate blending between harvest grapes and a majority of reserve wines, including some, ages in magnums for more than 15 years in Bollingers cellars. To the eye: A golden colour, distinctive of black grape varieties. Very fine bubbles. To the nose: A beautiful aromatic complexity. Ripe fruit and spice aromas. Hints of roasted apples, apple compote and peaches. To the palate: A subtle combinations of structure, length and vivacity. Bubbles like velvet. Pear, brioche and spicy aromas, notes of fresh walnut.

Founded in 1818 by Nicolas Francois Billecart and his spouse Elizabeth Salmon in Mareuil-sur-Ay, this is one of the few houses that have remained in the same family. Seven generations on, the house is led by the very talented Francois Roland-Billecart. They espouse three principal aims are finesse, balance and elegance and the Brut rose is testament to this. Pale salmon pink in colour, the nose shows lifted red fruits and fresh pear. The Pinot has given structure to the blend while the Chardonnay has given a wonderful elegance and delicacy. A blend of 40% chardonnay, 20% Pinot Meunier, and 40% Pinot Noir. Of the Pinot component 8% is still wine from the family vineyards in Mareuil.

House of Arras Grand Vintage is at the pinnacle of Australian sparkling wine! The fruit is sourced from the cool climate region of Tasmania where Ed Carr (Gourmet Wine Traveller Winemaker of the Year 2011) and his team produce an outstanding wine of incredible complexity and character resulting from extended maturation on yeast lees.

First Creek are really winning over a lot of new fans, especially wine drinkers who may have previously not given the Hunter Valley its fair dues. In the glass: Deep garnet to purple. On the nose: Black and blueberry fruit, and spice. On the palate: Medium to full-bodied with luscious texture and soft tannins. Showing black cherry, blueberry and vanilla alongside red liquorice notes. Long and moreish.

The Triolet blend, first produced at this vineyard in 1987, was inspired by the white wines of Graves, Bordeaux. Each variety is picked at optimum ripeness, and is usually fermented separately. The characteristics of optimum ripeness are different for each variety. We pick the Sauvignon blanc after the strong herbaceous flavours have disappeared, the Semillon when the acid is not too harsh, and the Muscadelle when the flavour intensity peaks.

Made only in exceptional years, Brut vintage reflects both the Louis Roederer house style and the characteristic of the year. Aged for 5 years, the vintage is created from 66 per-cent Pinot Noir and 34 per-cent Chardonnay. The elegant straw gold colour is home to a fine necklace of bubbles. Gentle mousse typical of the vintage with great maturity. The complexity gives a wide spectrum of rich aromas : pears, prunes, white peaches and nectarine Convinced yet?

Sourced and grown in the Adelaide Hills, this is a fine example of how good Chardonnay from this region can be. This is a blend of 3 different cultivars of the Chardonnay grape. Bunch pressed and in part wild fermented. Partial malolactic fermentation imparts further complexity. A beautifully textured and complex wine.

Australia's first boutique winery, Lake's Folly Cabernets is an Australian wine treasure. More Bordeaux in nature than most, the Cabernets is a wine of pristine purity and elegance. With a sense of place that can be tasted in every bottle across all vintages, Lake's Folly Cabernets is a must have for all serious wine collectors and lovers. The 2010 is a young, robust version that will require some time in the cellar to really show its complex characteristics and refined palate.