The Yarra Valley is renowned for its excellence in Pinot Noir and this expression is no exception. In the glass: Medium garnet red. On the nose: Ripe dark berry fruit. On the palate: Bold, quite powerul red plum and raspberry fruit with some background stalky, herbal elements. Firm and dry yet flavoursome and varietal.

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.

Ample and dark fruited, with a smoky, savoury feel. Plenty of spice amid the berry fruits, with lovely earthy and graphite notes running through. Predominantly from Garagiste's Balnarring, Tuerong and Merricks vineyards, with a small proportion of Red Hill fruit. The grapes were sorted then destemmed--a small percentage of the Merricks portion was fermented with a 100% whole bunches--and fermented in small open fermenters using indigenous yeast, minimal hand plunging and spending 25 days on skins. The wine was aged for ten months in 10% new hogsheads with the balance being raised in older hogsheads. Unfined and unfiltered. Barnaby Flanders created the Garagiste label following his amicable split with Allies co-founder David Chapman (who continues with the Allies label). Barney now focuses on a snug range of small-batch wines from fruit sourced from the highly prized Merricks Grove vineyard, the Silverwood vineyard (Balnarring), and the Hugh Robinson vineyard in Moorooduc. Garagiste, the main label, is ably supported by delicious entry-level wines under the Le Stagiaire banner. Barnaby and Cam (Marshall) manage all aspects of the viticulture and winemaking themselves and a range of succulent, finely tuned and elegantly crafted cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is what results.

Scotchman's Hill's second label often throws up some terrific value for money. A beautiful spicy nose with cinnamon and clove elements, supported by cherry flavours and grippy tannins.

Garnet in colour, the wine displays aromas of cherry cola, violets, star anise and pink peppercorns. The palate has black forest chocolate notes, tobacco leaf, Danish liquorice and spice. Berry fruit flavours are supported by grainy tannins and a juicy finish.

New from Oyster Bay, summer cherry and fragrant blossom notes with a burst of red berries and a lively citrus zest and lingering freshness.