Waipara Hills Brut – $22 – ** – Sparkling riesling from Waipara, New Zealand. Light straw, medium bead. Pears, water melon and floral notes on the nose. Smooth texture on the palate shows hints of dried pears, ripe apples and mild acidity. Finishes off-dry.

Nepenthe Pinot Gris 2010 – $19 – **- Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Pale, hint of green. Subdued sherbet-like bouquet. Fruity ripe citrus in the mouth. Soft acidity to finish.

Summerhouse Chardonnay 2007 – up to $35 – *** – Marlborough, New Zealand. Mid-golden hues. Apricot conserve, toast, and white flowers on the nose. New season peaches and apricots on the palate with a firm infrastructure of barrel fermentation and firm acidity to finish.

De Bortoli La Bohème Act Two Dry Pinot Noir Rosé 2010 – $18 – **** – Yarra Valley, Victoria. Palest candy pink hues. Sweet strawberries and raspberries on the nose. Lovely dry palate with plenty of summer berries and a delightfully firm finish. Best rosé I’ve tasted this year.

Bellvale Pinot Noir 2007 – $35 – *** – Gippsland, Victoria. Dark cherry hues. Lifted nose of cherries, a hint of smokiness and strawberry tart. Well-fruited style with a hint of maraschino cherry and mid-dry tannins on the palate.

Peter Lehmann Clancy’s 2008 – $13 – ** – Barossa Valley, South Australia. Shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, merlot blend. Mid-crimson in colour. Nose of ripe blackberries and blood plums. A style of generous, smooth-textured red which typifies Barossa Valley offerings.

Thistle Hill Shiraz 2010 – $20 – *** – Mudgee, New South Wales. Preservative free. Dark ruby in colour. There is an appealing “thickness” about the nose of this along with mature fruit and hints of coffee and possibly aniseed. Well textured with grippy tannins along with top notes of mature fruit interwoven with earthy bush track character.

Zema Estate Coonawarra Shiraz 2007 – $25 – **** – Dark crimson, purple edges. Aromatic bouquet of dark berries. Solid offering of mouth-filling fruit combined with slightly chewy texture. A firm, forceful aftertaste demands the accompaniment of main course dishes. Cellar to 2015.

Ratings

***** – outstanding

**** – classy

*** – first-rate

** – good stuff

* – commercial

Prices in Australian dollars