Trentham Estate winemaker Anthony Murphy has done it again - producing a great value Pinot Noir offering cherry, raspberry and subtle confectionery characteristics as well as velvety mouthfeel.

Fromm's passion for Pinot Noir is reflected in the attention to detail shown in the vineyard and throughout the winemaking process. Carefully selected clones and rootstocks, together with intensive vineyard care and low cropping, means the vines produce fruit that illustrates the terroir in which they were grown. Today in the Fromm stable of vineyards there are eleven clones, 4000 - 5000 vines per hectare, with crop levels around five to six tonnes per hectare. The blend which makes up each years La Strada Pinot Noir by Fromm depends on what nature has given in each of their vineyards. Invariably, the wine is strongly varietal, fruity and has immediate appeal.

Touches of smoky clove and exotic spice enhance the rich flavours of sweet red plum and black cherry that burst onto the palate. Very fine, supple tannins carry evenly right to the finish.

Tim Knappstein became a third generation vigneron when he commenced his career in the family company, Stanley Wines, making his first wine in 1966, after graduating from the Roseworthy College Oenology course. Riposte, has enabled Tim to fully utilise his rich and accumulated knowledge from a decorated 45 years of wine-making, and his boundless enthusiasm to keep making exceptional well priced wine, from premium cool climate grapes of the Adelaide Hills. The Dagger has been honed to create a vibrant, rich, earlier drinking wine displaying all of the hallmark aromas flavours and texture of Pinot Noir.

Owned by actor Sam Neil, Two Paddocks is a small family owned winery in the prestigous Central Otago Region. The Two Paddocks Picnic Pinot Noir shows good length and depth in its youth and will develop more complexity with bottle age.

The cool-climate of the Adelaide Hills has proven to be a haven for Pinot Noir and is quickly establishing a reputation akin to the benchmark Australian regions. Tim Knappstein from Riposte harnesses the qualities of the region and the varietal with effortless ease with his The Sabre. Bright colour in the glass is followed by a lifted floral nose with a savoury edge. The palate is fresh, clean and superbly powerful. A delight.

The Seresin Leah is a wonderful example of hand-crafted Marlborough Pinot Noir which is sourced from 3 of Seresin's premium vineyard sites; the clay rich hillside Raupo Creek vineyard, the alluvial shingles of the Tatou vineyard and the Home vineyard, which is made up of a variety of Waimakariri type soils of alluvial origin. The wine itself shows a nose of savoury, spicy and earthy aromas with plum, berry and herbal notes. Following is a palate that is both focused and plush with a feminine feel of red fruits, namely strawberry and ripe cherry.

Paringa is one of Australia's best and most consistent Pinot producers. This wine shows superb varietal aromas of cherry, plum and spice, and the palate is long, textured and complex. With the ability to be cellared for the medium to long term, Lindsay McCall's Estate Pinot is a certainty to be included in any cellar of a great Pinot Noir lover.

Lightfoot & Sons Pinot Noir gives lifted floral aromas and bright red cherry fruit which make this an immediately appealing wine. The whole bunch ferments bring cherry and plum fruit characters to the fore of the palate and contrast with the French oak, tannins and savoury elements. This is a classic Gippsland Pinot Noir, it has texture, bright clean fruit and great balance.

Once again this producer provides us with a handy little number showing plenty of varietal and regional characteristics. Sticks Pinot Noir from Yarra Valley, features lovely red cherry flavours with playfull spices and charry oak influence. Lean with subtle tannins and medium finish.