One of the Yarra Valley's up and comers, the Punt Road Shiraz is almost black in colour with aromas of cassis and a whiff of licquorice. A palate of plush plums and blackcurrant follows with flash of peppery spice. Kate Goodman continues to do a stellar job at one of the Yarra Valley's best wineries.

Fulcrum is the fantastic new venture from Pinot Noir rockstar, William Downie and long time friend and colleague, Jason Searle. Wonderfully fresh and vibrant with varietal characters of plum and earthen spice, Fulcrum Pinot Noir continues to develop in the bottle and is simply a premium wine steal at this price.

Toolangi is a state forest just outside Healesville that was devastated during Black Saturday. The excellent vineyards remain, and continue to produce wines of personality and place. The Chardonnay combines varietal characters of quince and crab apple with some delicious nutty oak nuances. Its great value.

The Yarra Valley is one of the heavyweight regions for Australian Chardonnay, with finesse and length of flavour the hallmarks of the regional style. In the glass: Pale lemon green. On the nose: Apple, grapefruit, oatmeal and almond aromas. On the palate: Fine, elegant and poised yet with power and drive and a delicious core of white and yellow fruits. A savoury, almost salty layer adds complexity, velvety texture and racy acidity.

The 2015 Cherry Tree Hill Chardonnay is a great example of a cool climate wine. The depth of amazing fruit is complimented perfectly by subtle oak tannins integrated from ten months ageing in large format French and Hungarian oak barrels.

Airlie Bank dares to treat drinkers with respect by delivering wines that are delicious and true - as well as remarkably good value. Tim Shand and the team enjoy freedom to push boundaries. Their small-batch ethos has led to a great deal of creativity and ever-decreasing doses of sulphur. Bright acitity on the nose with doughy, bready complexities. This wine is fresh and vibrant with a focussed palate structure of apple blossom and citrus characters with complex brioche notes.

A benchmark chardonnay from master wine-maker Rob Dolan out of the Yarra Valley. Packed full of grapefruit, white peach, cashew & nutmeg aromas brimming from the glass followed by a mineral consistency on the palate with extended length on the finish. Will easily cellar for another 5 years if you can wait that long.

A triumph in context of the vintage, this is undoubtedly a cool year wine, driven by lightly herbal pencil shavings aromatics and tobacco. Yet the palate is disarmingly juicy, giving this weight and drive, even if I think that oak is driving that mid-palate. On the whole surprisingly ripe and easy, if a bit raw and acidic through the finish. Overall impression is quality winemaking in a crap year (for reds at least).

This wine is grown, picked and made to be elegant in style, with lifted strawberry Pinot Noir aromas. It is dry, yet succulent wine with fresh acidity and fine texture. A lovely aperitif enjoyed on its own or with lighter foods such as antipasto, pâté or fresh summer seafood.