Innocent Bystander eminates from Victoria's Yarra Valley and is the brain child of owner, Phil Sexton. With winemaker Steve Flamsteed on board, the Innocent Bystander wines are fantastically varietal and extremely approachable. The Pinot Noir is packed full of black cherry and cedary notes with a perfect balance of soft, but fine grained tannin.

A beautifully perfumed example of the classic medium-bodied Yarra Valley style from an exciting new entrant to the local scene, made by the highly experienced Paul Bridgeman. Medium garnet. Open and expressive aromas of mulled strawberry, forest floor and clove. Plush and polished palate, delivering a riot of red berry perfume, and velvet umami throughout, enhanced by damp earth, mushroom and stalk and charry barrel harmony.

Chandon, a benchmark of quality in the wine industry, has produced this beautifully structured Sparkling Rosé. Fresh strawberry and raspberry on the nose. Medium body, hint of yeast in the background accompanied by a complex bouquet of rose petals and wild white flowers with a clean crisp finish.

Bright ruby red appearance with a lovely crimson hue. Lovely nose, highly perfumed wine with red cherry, five spice savoury and floral notes dominating the aromas. The palate has a core of red fruit flavours around a backbone of natural acid. The mouthfeel is lithe and energetic with slinky fine tannins and a clean, fruit-driven finish. A wine made for immediate consumption that will improve with careful cellaring over the medium term.

Sourced predominantly from the cool Hoddles Creek vineyard in the Yarra Valley this blend of classic sparkling varieties is amazing value. The nose is rich and toasty and the palate is fine crisp and elegant.

This 20ha vineyard was planted on red clay loam soil at Woori Yallock in 2001 by Lou Primavera, with whom Giant Steps has a long-standing grape-supply relationship. Pinot Noir (114, MV6 and G8V3 clones) grown here on the north and north east facing slopes at 230m is noted for its complex structure and pronounced perfume. The 114 and MV6 are fermented as whole bunches in open vats, while the G8V3 is destemmed, given a long cold-soak and fermented separately to enhance its aromatic contribution. All ferments use indigenous yeasts and the whole-bunch components are periodically foot-stomped to release additional juice. The wines are pressed to 228 litre, French barriques (about 8% new) for 11 months before blending and bottling without fining or filtration.

This is the Australian benchmark for bubbles in this price range and will hold its position as the ever-reliable party favourite. The Chandon Rose is pink in colour and delivers enticing aromas of freshly baked pastry and nougat along with spice notes and hints of cherry and ripe strawberry. The palate is multi-layered with mouth-filling red berry flavours complemented by toasty characters. A beautifully structured mid-palate is supported by savoury spice and fine creamy notes.

Victoria's first vineyard is a landmark in the Yarra Valley and an icon of the Australian wine industry. Loads of lovely Pinot character on the nose with ripe cherry gamey notes and hints of "forest floor". Silky in texture the lingering flavour is enhanced by a touch of oak.

The team at Oakridge are going from strength to strength these days and they are taking the Over The Shoulder range with them. Dry maraschino cherry and gently gamey yet clean mouthful of delicious Pinot! Really great finishing length for this sort of price!