This is a classic from the Marlborough. On the nose, it's filled with confected strawberry and apricot aromas. With a drop like this, you'll be as happy as a pig in mud on a summer's day.

A splendid, pleasurable wine: The Grenache and Cinsault blend form an aromatic harmony offering notes of peach and candied orange. The flavour is crisp and round on the palate. Colour: Light and bright. Nose: Eager and intense with orange peel and red current aromas. Flavours: Smooth with a fresh finish.

1998 was the fourth successive drought vintage in the Clare Valley. This Riesling has a fuller orange blossom flavour and aroma produced from a drought year.

Petaluma Riesling is one of Australia's finest examples of this noble variety. Pale straw in colour the palate exhibits lemon and grapefuit flavours matched by some fresh and racy acidity. Sourced from the home of great Australian Riesling, this trademark Clare Valley aromatic white is wonderful when opened upon release and like all great Rieslings, will develop brilliant toasty characters over a 10 year period in the bottle.

The Pike brothers established Pikes winery in the Polish Hill sub-region of the Clare Valley in 1984, renovating an old stone shearing shed to house their winery and cellar door. Neil is the veteran winemaker (he’s done 38 vintages in Clare); Andrew the seasoned viticulturist (he spent 22 years working for big names like Wynn’s Coonawarra and Southcorp before establishing Pikes). Together they turn out formidable wines that earn plenty of show medals and critical acclaim. Their richly textured 2017 'Wilfred's Block' really is magnificent. A definitive Australian blend of inky, slatey Cabernet and sumptuous, spicy Shiraz, it’s a contemplative wine – the layers of flavour will reveal themselves slowly – and perfect for winter sipping. It will cellar well until 2032, but is still drinking beautifully now. Decant, pour into big glasses, and savour with good food and good friends.