Ten Minutes By Tractor 2007 Wallis Vineyard Chardonnay

This is my favourite of the individual vineyard chardonnays from this outstanding Mornington Peninsula producer. A wine with wonderful pristine fruit character, elegance and restraint with vibrant acidity. French oak barrique maturation has added complexity but the oak is never instrusive; letting the fruit do the talking. Excellent. $55.

Pepper Tree 2009 Limited Release Semillon

Winemaker Jim Chatto is doing some very good things at Pepper Tree in the Hunter Valley and this is exhibit (a). It's a crisp and zingy wine, with lively citrus flavours on the palate, a hint of spice and plenty of length and definition. It went down very well with a kung pao chicken dish and it remains a mystery to me why these vibrant, youthful Hunter semillons aren't all the rage over summer. They should be. $22.

McGuigan The Shortlist 2007 Barossa Valley Shiraz

There are plenty of big, gutsy Barossa shirazes out there; many of them simply too oaky or too high in alcohol for my palate. This, however, is a very different beast; it has plenty of flavour but it is also beautifully balanced, making it wonderfully easy to drink. All the elements of great Barossa shiraz are in place without any hint of excess. Take a bottle of this along to your favourite pizza or pasta joint and you certainly won’t be disappointed. $22.

Amberley 2009 Secret Lane Sauvignon Blanc

There is quite a backlash against sauvignon blanc right now and several of the Kiwi numbers do have a certain sameness to them. There is also some resistance among the vinorati to buying wines from big companies, but in this case I'd be loath to resist. This is a downright delicious drop from Margaret River; a perfect wine for summer with tropical and citrus aromas/flavours, crisp fresh acidity and lovely freshness. Pair with char-grilled garfish. Heaven! $19.95.