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Many of us wine drinkers have a soft spot for Chablis. Its with great reason too, given our climate and affi nity with seafood. A little over two months ago, we were thrilled when this wine hit our shores for the first time following a selective buying trip. Once again, it showcased its undisputed quality and notoriety in our tasting sessions. Established in 1850, this small family owned domain is the proven choice of so many when it comes to great Chablis. The estate comprises a mere 45 hectares of vines scattered throughout the region, grown on the famous Kimmeridgian limestone soils. Textbook in expression and style, super fi ne and elegant, this 2013 has perfectly poised, piercing acidity. This drives superb length of flavour on the featherweight light palate. Is there a better oyster wine?

Named of the sundial erected in the vineyard in 1842, Wehlener Sonnenuhr is the most famous vineyard in the Mosel. Extremely steep with optimal south-south west exposure, it yields fragrantly floral wines with ripe stone fruit aromas, underlying slately minerality and wonderful depth of flavour and structure. The Spatlese wines are very reticent in youth, blossoming between two and four years of age to display vibrant green apple, and white stone-fruit notes supported by a backbone of racy acidity.

Sourced from dry-grown, hand tended vines in the north east of Victoria, this Beechworth Chardonnay from Savaterre will surely convince even the most hardened Chardonnay critic that modern Australian Chardonnay is of supreme world-class standard. Keppell Smith handcrafts a Chardonnay of utmost power and concentration that produces a length of flavour that borders on the immortal.

Of the three By Farr single vineyard Pinot Noirs, Sangreal is characterised by its perfumed aromatics and silky more open-knit structure. The Sangreal vineyard lies on red ironstone soil on the house block with vineyard rows planted on a north south orientation. This provides maximum sunlight exposure to the grapes during the day and ensures it is the first vineyard to be harvested every year.

Ray Nadeson describes Ménage à Noir Pinot Noir as “Lethbridge-lite”; we prefer to think of it as the opening act to this producer’s impressive suite of Pinot Noirs. It’s a blend of sites, but the lion’s share (88%) comes from Jack and Lois Doeven’s cool site in Drumborg (Henty). This low-yielding vineyard with well-established vines was planted in schist soils in the 1980s. The balance of the fruit comes from Geelong. The destemmed fruit ferments in a 3,000-litre wooden fermenter with regular pumpovers. The wine then matures in a mixture of old and new (approximately 10%) French oak of various sizes (225, 300 and 2,500 litres). This is bright, fresh and vibrant with signature Lethbridge energy and raciness balanced nicely by ripe berry fruits, earthy spice and a crunchy, sappy, lasting finish. A real winner.

From some of the earliest plantings of Shiraz in the Yarra Valley with vines dating back to 1969. Shiraz (96%) co-fermented with small parcels of Viognier, Marsanne and Mataro aged 12 to 18 months in 50% new French oak barrels produces a wine that is perfumed and feminine with the tannins and acidity as integral to the wine as the fruit. Proven to age for 25+ years, Yarra Yering Dry Red No 2 was the first Cote Rotie style blend made in Australia

One of Victoria's true heritage wines, Yarra Yering Dry Red No.1 is primarily a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Malbec and a touch of Petit Verdot. Planted on a historic Yarra Valley site by the late Dr Bailey Carrodus, this wine is full of complex aromas of plum and berry which is followed by rich fruits with an oak and cedar slant. A wine drinking well now and value for the true wine lover.

A unique blend of six Portuguese varieties, Touriga Nacional Tinta Cao, Tinta Amarela, Alvarelhao, Roriz and Sousao, all planted in a natural amphitheatre at the highest and most southerly point of the Yarra Yering vineyard.

Compelling and convincing, with florals, currants and blackberries, not too sweet; it has a savoury edge, with the oak seamlessly integrated. Perfectly ripe tannins with poise and presence ensure that this is lovely now, but will be more so in years to come.

Named after the sundial erected in the vineyard in 1842, Wehlener Sonnenuhr is the most famous vineyard in the Mosel. J.J Prüm owns five hectares of this precious vineyard. Extremely steep with optimal south-south west exposure, it yields fragrantly floral wines with ripe stone fruit aromas, underlying slately minerality and wonderful depth of flavour and structure. The Auslese wines are typically more reticent when young showing vivid crystalline citrus fruit and a backbone of tingling minerally acidity that will carry it gracefully for decades.