Tapanappa 2008 Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay

This has to be a serious contender for the title of Australia's best chardonnay. Made from fruit grown in veteran winemaker Brian Croser's family vineyard in the Piccadilly Valley of the Adelaide Hills, this is very much the product of a warm vintage with stone fruit and melon aromas and some distinct ripeness on the palate - but without any excesses. A wine in which fruit and oak are in perfect harmony; this is beautifully textured with immediate appeal. $80.

Mitchelton 2009 Blackwood Park Riesling

Central Victorian winery Mitchelton, which is celebrating its 40th birthday this year, has an excellent reputation for its powerful shirazes and oaked marsannes, but for me it is the rieslings that are the star turn. The 2009 vintage, made by talented young winemaker Ben Haines, has typical floral and citrus aromas and flavours, wonderful pristine fruit and tight crisp acid. This zingy, zesty number is one of Australia's great wine bargains at $17-18.

Clonakilla 2008 Shiraz Viognier

Tim Kirk makes the benchmark wines of this blend in Australia; wines that have glorious ripe fruit aromas, intensity on the palate and the potential to cellar for a decade or more. You’ll find a spectrum of flavours here; from dark and red berries to herbs and Asian spices to cool-climate pepper. This is a big, powerful wine with plenty to say but is also has silky softness on the palate that gives it immediate appeal – although it will doubtless improve with age. Stunning! $85.

Mayfield Vineyard 2008 Pinot Noir

The cool-climate Orange region is starting to produce some appealing pinots and this is a very good effort indeed. It is determinedly varietal on the nose and has nice balance between fresh red fruit flavours and savoury characters on the palate. It's a wine with lovely mouthfeel, real pinosity and it's easy to drink. Put me on an intravenous drip! Well worth $35.