Illuminati 2006 Riparosso

Everyone is looking for a bargain right now and you can't go wrong with this delicious Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo from Dan Murphy's. It's a beefy, rustic number with nice savoury characters; perfect with pasta, pizza or roast meats and great value at $12.

Grant Burge 2007 Summers Chadonnay

You wouldn't mistake this for anything other than chardonnay with its big, creamy, rich flavours. But it also has nice balance with relatively low alcohol, melon and grapefruit on the palate and well-integrated oak. A whole bottle simply evaporated. $24.

Grant Burge 2007 Summers Chardonnay

You wouldn't mistake this for anything other than chardonnay with its big, creamy rich flavours. But it also has nice balance with relatively low alcohol, melon and grapefruit flavours and well integrated oak. A whole bottle simply evaporated. $24.

Blue Pyrenees 2001 Midnight Cuvée

With the holiday season fast approaching, lovers of sparkling wines would be well advised to grab a bottle or two of this very fine bubbly. Made largely from chardonnay, it oozes freshness and elegance - and is disturbingly easy to drink. $35.

Stefano Lubiana 2007 Primavera Pinot Noir

There are more and more quality pinots coming out of Tasmania - and Steve Lubiana is one of the finest exponents. This is a fresh, juicy and vibrant with tons of berry/cherry flavours designed for enjoying in its youth. Barbecued duck anyone? $30.

IMPORT SPECIAL Paul Mas 2007 Chardonnay

Australian producers should be afraid when imports this good are available at Dan Murphy's. This is a lovely chardonnay with tropical fruit flavours and nice acid. The 07 Cabernet Sauvignon is equally good. Both are just $8.99.

IMPORT SPECIAL

IMPORT SPECIAL

Cape Mentelle 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

You've got to love a wine that's as easy to drink as this perennial winner from Margaret River. Fruit-driven, it is fresh and zesty - but beautifully balanced with lovely acid. It seemed to evaporate in the glass. $28.

Cape Mentelle 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

You've got to love a wine that's as easy to drink as this perennial winner from Margaret River. Fruit-driven, it is fresh and zesty - but beautifully balanced with lovely acid. It seemed to evaporate in the glass. Enjoy in its youth with snapper fillets. $28.

Gapsted 2008 Petit Manseng

A lovely surprise! Made from a southern French grape, it has gorgeous lime/honeysuckle aromas and delicious tangy stonefruit flavours on the palate, which has fruit sweetness but finishes off-dry. Pair with Vietnamese food. $21.

Heggies 2008 Eden Valley Riesling

There are some very good 2008 rieslings on the market but you won't do better than this crisp, refreshing wine from high-altitude, cool-climate vineyards. Nicely structured with oodles of flavour, citrusy minerality and lovely finishing acid. $20.

Cannibal Creek 2005 Pinot Noir

A lovely pinot from a family operation at Pakenham, between Melbourne and West Gippsland. This fragrant number has lovely sweet berries on the nose and fresh dark cherry flavours on the palate with hints of toasty oak and lovely structure. $26.

[Yellow Tail] 2008 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

Call me a wine snob, but I didn't expect to like this. I was wrong. It's a really good summer drink with plenty of freshness and vitality. It's crisp, zingy and quite dry and you can't go wrong at the price. Perfect with a seafood barbecue. $9.

3 Tales 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

Looking for a wine that's Kiwi sauvignon blanc but not too much in your face? This joint effort between De Bortoli and leading Kiwi winemaker Brett Marris is midway between Marlborough and Sancerre in style. Very crisp, very drinkable. $19.

Sandalford 2008 Rosé

The quintessential summer wine, this off-dry rosé from Margaret River is designed to be enjoyed well chilled while still deliciously fresh and youthful. Think strawberry juice in a glass and you get the idea. Great with picnics or Lebanese dishes. $20.

Taylors 2008 Riesling

Wow! This is an absolutely delicious – and bone dry - Clare Valley riesling with lashings of lemon and lime on the palate and all the crispness of a fresh green apple. The perfect wine for a summer evening and great with Asian dishes. $19.

Penna Lane 2008 Riesling

For the second straight year Penna Lane's Clare riesling finished with high marks from my blind tasting. It's a lovely aromatic wine with intense citrus flavours on the palate and some bright and breezy acidity. The ideal after-work pick-me-up. $20.

Hardys 2006 Oomoo Shiraz

You wouldn't mistake this for anything other than an Australian shiraz - it's a big, bold wine with plenty of plum and chocolate flavours, hints of spicy oak and tons of weight. The perfect midweek or barbecue wine for those on a budget. Always a bargain. $16.

Hardys 2006 Oomoo Shiraz

You wouldn't mistake this for anything other than an Australian shiraz - it's a big, bold wine with plenty of plum and chocolate flavours, hints of spicy oak and plenty of weight. The perfect midweek or barbecue wine for those on a budget, it's always a bargain. $16.

Ten Minutes By Tractor 2006 Wallis Chardonnay

A glorious single vineyard chardonnay from one of the best producers on the Mornington Peninsula. This has wonderful purity of flavour, tight citrus notes, minerality and excellent acidity. $55.

Talinga Park 2008 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

A candidate for bargain of the year. Fresh and zingy, it's the perfect summer wine with tropical fruit and lime flavours and a nice dry finish. A wine for enjoying well chilled, it would be perfect with barbecued prawns. $9.95.

Brandy Creek 2006 Sparkling Pinot Gris

This West Gippsland winery produces no fewer than four pinots gris each year. This is a really interesting sparkler with pear notes on the nose, very fine bubbles and a fresh, vibrant palate with hints of creaminess. A lovely aperitif. $33.

McHenry Hohnen 2007 Rocky Road Chardonnay

Thoroughly modern, thoroughly delicious! I love this Margaret River chardy, which has white peaches and cream flavours, light but spicy oak beautifully integrated and a clean, fresh acid finish. Complex but enjoyable. Bring a second bottle! $37.

Kangarilla Road 2006 Primitivo

Primitivo is native to Croatia, popular Italy, usually called zinfandel in the US and Australia. This is a big, spicy number, with berry/cherry and spice flavours. Bright and fresh with soft tannins and nice balance given it carries 16% alcohol. $22.

Lauca Reserva 2005 Carmenere

Chile is producing some superb red wines at very reasonable prices - as shown by this little beauty. Made from a grape that's unknown here, it is really flavoursome; soft and smooth with balance and relatively low alcohol. $20.

Yalumba Oxford Landing 2007 Chardonnay

This is terrific for the price, with nice crisp fruit flavours in a bright and zingy wine that has seen just a touch of oak. If you like your chardonnays fresh and clean with rich, tropical fruit flavours on the palate then you'll enjoy this. $8.

Heemskerk 2007 Derwent Valley Pinot Noir

Welcome back Heemskerk! Talented winemaker Anna Pooley has created a superb new range with an 06 Chardonnay and 07 Riesling joining this rich, earthy but approachable Tasmanian pinot that combines robust flavours with elegance. $60.

Rutherglen Estates 2006 Mourvedre Shiraz Greenache

It's easy to fall in love with this juicy, fruity red from a winery that specialises in Rhone varieties. You'll find hints of pepper and spice, some savoury notes and subtle oak - but most of all this is gloriously gluggable with pizza or pasta. $16.

Burgans 2006 Albarino

Several keen judges believe albarino is the next big thing; and many Australian producers have already planted it. This is the real deal, from Spain, a Vintage Cellars special with apple flavours, honeyed textures and lovely finishing acid. $15.

Bowen Estate 2006 Coonawarra Shiraz

The Bowens makes reds that are big and flavoursome in their youth and develop beautifully over a decade or two. This is a stunner with generous aromas and dark berry flavours on the palate. Great structure, lovely tannins, the whole package. $26.

Tar & Roses 2006 Heathcote Shiraz

Tar & Roses is an exciting new label from former Mitchelton winemaker Don Lewis and business partner Narelle King. The sangiovese, tempranillo and nebbiolo are great but this shines with gorgeous fruit, pepper and spice and drinkability. Bargain. $18.

Dowie Doole 2006 Shiraz

If you enjoy wines with plenty of grunt you'll love this McLaren Vale offering, which is dark, big, rich and opulent. You'll find blackberry, plum and spice characters, dollops of bold oak and plenty of mouthfeel. Pair it with steak and kidney pie. $25.

Jacob's Creek 2007 Grenache Shiraz

There are not many bottles of budget red that enthuse me, but two of us drank a bottle of this and thoroughly enjoyed it. Juicy, slightly spicy and medium bodied, it just oozes drinkability. Great with steaks, pizzas or pastas and terrific value at $10.

Alkoomi 2007 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

A terrific budget-priced wine for drinking in its youth. There are lovely aromatics and plenty of flavour on the palate, where you'll discover crisp sweet fruit flavours and a zesty finish. Enjoy chilled with spicy Thai dishes or grilled seafood. $16.

Capel Vale 2007 Debut Verdelho

Verdelho is very refreshing when made well, and this is made very well indeed. Fresh zingy and zesty, it's the perfect wine for a warm autumn afternoon. Tropical fruit flavours and crispness make it a good partner for spicy food. $18.

Conte Estate The Numb Hand Pruner 2006 Grenache

It's a mystery why varietal grenache has fallen out of favour when there are wines like this available; medium-bodied with hints of spice, subtle oak and savoury characters, this offers real drinkability and affordability. $18.

Innocent Bystander 2008 Moscato

Probably first wine from the 2008 vintage to be released, and it's a ripping little pink number, effervescent and fresh with lashings of sweet Muscat fruit. A lively aperitif-style wine with just 5.5% alcohol that's sold in 375ml bottles. $12.50.

Bay of Fires 2002 Arras

This may be Australia's best sparkling wine. A classic Tasmanian blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, it is a bubbly with style and sophistication. There's lovely complexity but also freshness in a wine with wonderful balance and refreshing acidity. $55.

Logan 2007 Apple Tree Flat Chardonnay

What a great buy! It is hard to go past a well-made, flavoursome chardonnay like one. It offers some lovely varietal characters, with stone and citrus fruit flavours to the fore, making it an excellent quaffer for $11.

Pipers Brook Vineyard 2007 Riesling

One of a number of excellent rieslings coming out of Tasmania, this is a wonderfully vibrant wine with intense floral aromas and just the right balance of citrus and minerality on the palate. Crisp and dry with lingering mouthfeel. $28.

Capel Vale 2007 Debut Verdelho

Verdelho is often casually dismissed, but can be very refreshing when made well - and this is. Fresh, zingy and zesty, it is the perfect wine for a warm autumn afternoon. There are some tropical fruit flavours but also some lovely crispness. $18.

Casella 2006 Yendah Shiraz Viognier

The Casella family have enjoyed huge success with their [Yellow Tail] label but for this range they source fruit from around the country (in this case McLaren Vale) to make stylish, well-structured wines. This is soft, appealing and food-friendly. $18.

Knappstein Ackland Vineyard 2007 Riesling

The 2007 vintage was a difficult one for riesling in the Clare Valley but winemaker Paul Smith has come up trumps with this lovely Watervale wine. Floral aromas, intense classic citrus and mineral characters and a crisp finish. Gorgeous. $30.

Jacob's Creek 2005 Reserve Shiraz

One of Australia's biggest wine bargains, particularly as it is often on discount. There are some lovely dark berry characters here, along with plums and spice. A more elegant, fragrant wine than the standard JC Shiraz and disturbingly drinkable. $18.

Jacob's Creek 2005 Reserve Shiraz

This is one of Australia's biggest wine bargains, particularly as it is on discount. There are some lovely dark berry characters here, along with plums and spice. A more elegant, fragrant wine than the standard JC Shiraz and disturbingly drinkable. $18.

Angove's 2006 Long Row Cabernet Sauvignon

This has to be one Australia's best wine bargains! There's plenty of flavour but also elegance and complexity that you don't often find in this price bracket. Dark berry and herbal notes on the palate with oak in support. Lovely, soft and savoury. $10.

Majella 2006 The Musician

A quintessentially Aussie blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz from Coonawarra, this is a budget offering from a top-notch winery. It’s soft and elegant with just a hint of oak to add complexity. A great wine for a barbecue. $18.

Peter Lehmann 2007 Eden Valley Riesling

A deliciously dry and enjoyable riesling with a lovely floral bouquet, zesty lemon and lime flavours on the palate and a crisp dry finish. If you don’t tell your mates they are drinking riesling they’ll quaff this all night long. Great with seafood. $15.