The 2018 Harold opens with intense aromas of black olive, cassis and coffee, complimented by subtler tones of lavender and violets. It is immediately apparent that this is a powerful, dark, brooding and soulful wine. The texture is rich yet lithe, and the freshness in the wine carries the depth with poise. Liquorice, dark chocolate and blackberry dominate the classically brackish palate. The cool vintage conditions provide balanced acidity and soft, ripe tannin. It is pure Northern Barossa Shiraz from a tiny, old plot in the heart and soul of the western ridge, Moppa. Decant and enjoy now or keep in the cellar for the next 8-10 years. I grew up in the Wimmera in Victoria at a time when the creeks and lakes flowed bountifully with water. We regularly fished for trout in these lakes and Dad, being a tragic angler, would never be short of gear. Sometimes we would share 20 fishing rods between our family of five, which eventually caused issues as we could not tell which rod was biting. We decided to name the rods, and in doing so they took on their own personalities. Harold Fisher was an old, traditional, grain farmer that Dad sold tractors to, and he wasnt renowned for his abilities as a scholar or fashionista. It was obvious to name a rod after Harold, but little did we know that this rod was to become as much a part of the family as the rest of us. A legend in and out of the water, Harold was purchased in the 1950s and is still used to this day. He is old and grumpy yet freakishly talented. The 2018 Vintage once again proved that timing is everything. Following a wet growing season in 2017, we had minimal autumn and winter rain, setting us up for a potentially difficult year. However, spring provided us with bountiful water and the season was set from there. We experienced another dry and hot summer, which restricted our yields but amplified the quality of the harvest. For Izway, a late March start resulted in cool picking conditions, lower alcohols and incredible purity and energy in our wine. The result is another spectacular vintage characterized by intensity and elegance. Izway wines was conceived on a handshake between two Aussie wine makers in a chateau in Beaujolais. Brian Conway and Craig Isbel met during vintage at Chateau de Bluizard in 2002 and after many nights drinking pastis they decided to start their own winery in the Barossa Valley.

Customers invariably ask: "What's Blanc de Blancs Champagne and what makes it so special?" The Champagne region grows three grapes, two red – Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – and one white ¬– Chardonnay. Blanc de Blancs is made only from Chardonnay and, as Hugh Johnson says, it therefore has "great grace and less weight than traditional Champagne". Laithwaite's is a tip-top example which for years has been expertly created for us by superb cellars in Avize, one of Champagne's finest villages. This particular cuvée is 100% Premier Cru vineyards and was matured for 30 months before release – double the required minimum – to ensure a really luxurious character. Showing complex white blossom, citrus and toasted brioche notes, it has great finesse, a very fine mousse, and the perfect amount of acidity to cut through a range of delicious canapés such as velvety chicken or duck liver parfait.

Eden Valley gets the full Torbreck treatment here, a small plot of Eden fruit transformed into a rich lush full bodied wine. Drink now for a velvet sledge hammer, or cellar for a wine of elegance and finesse.

This Katherines Paddock Chardonnay combines the richness, drive and classicism of one clone with the fine-boned flinty structure and chalky notes of the other. It is stylish with the modern expression of Australian style Chardonnay: tense, taut and sulphidic. It reclaims the middle ground where body, flavour and palate weight co-exist with structure, texture and restrained acidity. This single-vineyard Chardonnay has well integrated natural acidity with rich varietal expression.

What a magnificent wine! A pioneer in the modern Australian Chardonnay stakes, the Vat 47 from the Hunter Valley has a silky bouquet of melon stone fruit and creamy oak that is followed by a palate of extraordinary balance and length. An absolute classic and will only get better with some medium term ageing.

The house of Besserat de Bellefon was founded in 1843 near Ay in Champagne, and is now based in Epernay. The hallmark of the house is the lower than normal pressure that the wine is kept at under cork. This lower than normal pressure does not reduce the effervescence, but softens it, allowing the wine to partner better with food. The Blanc de Blancs - delicate and subtle citrus displaying a pure form of elegance. Aspect: Vivid, yellow, pure, brilliant Bouquet: Airy, acacia blossom, sea brine Palate: Tense, chalky, chiselled, vital, precise Assemblage : Chardonnay

Hand Picked Gin Gin clone, the balance of fruit, oak, acidity is so immaculate it is a pointless exercise to try to deconstruct their contributions. However the white peach and pink grapefruit flavours are as clear as a bell on the back palate and aftertaste, the finish fresh and clean. Masterful winemaking

Margaret River is a world renowned Chardonnay producing region and Pierro can rightfully stake a claim as to why. Incredibly complex, it is a tangle of fine-boned acid, lees complexity, pristine fruit and the most detailed use of good quality oak. Extremely enjoyable now, but will benefit from short to medium term cellaring.

Pale, straw colour with insinuations of green. Overt, ripe varietal fruit characters on the nose - pineapple, citrus and nectarine derived are from the warm vintage conditions. Mineral characters, orange blossom and almond meal along with some lees derived creaminess are all balanced within this multi-dimensional palate.