The citrus rind and grapefuit lead the palate to an overall fine yet textural journey. Cape Mentelle Chardonnay had this distinctive minerally line too, apparent with focussed refreshing acidity. Faint nuancesof soft nougat and cashews also add to what is a harmonious balance and an elegant and length finish.

Wynns Michael Shiraz is a 'best-of-vintage' Shiraz from Wynns vineyard sites in Coonawarra and is named after David Wynn's youngest son. Made in the years that best show Coonawarra's unique terroir, this latest release displays the qualities that have made the 'Michael' one of the most highly regarded of all Australian Shiraz with aromas of red currants, cherries and raspberry that mesh every so well with the olive and white spice characters. The palate follows with an elegant structure bursting with dark brooding spice and succulent ripe tannins.

Light pale straw in colour with a persistent effervescent bead. Deliciously clean, aromatic nose with a touch of peach and a dash of attractive yeast complex. An elegant soft fruit palate in a drier style, and finishing with a clean acid finish. The wine has an excellent persistent mousse and velvety creaminess. Enjoy this wine as an aperitif, or at any time of the day when a few bubbles will augment the joy of life!

Nectarine, apple, lemon peel and a hint of nougat, it’s juicy and rounded in the mouth. Bright fruit flavours backed by refreshing acidity, easy to reach for a second glass.

Gold in colour, this wine sings from the glass with roasted cashew, almond meal, ripe pear and stone fruits. The palate melds a perfect balance of white peach and classy French oak with exceptional length and fine acidity. Texturally this wine is rich yet svelte, a ripple of power gliding under a sophisticated, silken sheen.

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Single Vineyard Messenger Chardonnay is an inaugural release from the Messenger Vineyard. The vineyard is loacted in the cooler southern part of Coonawarra’s Terra Rossa, the wine crafted with hand-picked fruit and whole-bunch pressing for purity and finesse. The 2024 vintage offers enticing aromas and flavours of white peach, nectarine, fresh pear, and cashew, complemented by subtle dried honey, gun flint, and nutty French oak, all balanced by a refreshing citric acidity and a creamy, textured palate.

This is a newer world style of Chardonnay showing the elegance of fresh cool climate. Once harvested, the fruit was whole bunch pressed with the un-clarified juice that was fermented with inoculated yeast in seasoned French Oak Barriques. The wine by Paringa Estate was barrel stirred fortnightly during the eleven months of maturation and was sulphured early to retain fruit freshness & prevent malolactic fermentation. The bouquet of this wine is a mix nectarine, citrus/orange and complex sulphide solids aromas. The palate has similar fresh citrus & nectarine fruit flavours along with fine acidity. Chardonnay fruit combined with the complexity of barrel fermentation & maturation.

Sandro Mosele continues to take Kooyong's estate wines to heights unseen for the price. Focus, linear acidity and supreme elegance are all hallmarks of Sandro's work and all can be seen here. Along with great precision, comes lovely fruit characters also that work with a whole range of Asian-fusion cuisine.

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.

Bowen Estate Shiraz shared similar firm structure as it's sibling, the Cabernet Sauvignon. It's lifted aromas of ripe black fruits, warming spices and hint of earthy background makes it a welcoming drink with hearty food.