Ochota Barrels The Slint Vineyard Chardonnay 2017

I was generously gifted this Chardonnay - my mate Richard knows I'm a Chardy fan and he knows his wine. It's Richard's birthday today too - happy birthday mate! He hit the mark here. What a beauty! The bottle didn't last long either, need I say more?

Robert Stein Semillon Riesling Gewurztraminer 2017

A modern twist on a blend first launched by winemaker Jacob Stein's grandfather 40 years ago. Today, this is a field blend, wild fermented and held on skins for seven days, finishing fermentation on heavy lees to build texture.

Yelland and Papps Second Take Grenache 2017

Wicked Grenache! This is an absolute treasure - not a drop was left. I couldn't help but keep going back to it. Boom!

Chainring Cider Co Mosaic Madness 2017

The brainchild of Golden Grove Estate's diminutive winemaker Ray Costanzo and self-described mountain bike 'warrior'. 

Chainring Cider Co was founded simply because a mate of his doesn’t drink beer. After a mountain bike ride he would always drink cider while the rest of the group drank Costanzo's homebrew. Costanzo said he'd make his mate a cider but couldn’t help throwing in some left-over hops. 

Yelland and Papps Second Take Vermentino 2017

Gee I like this. Hello funky town! 231 days on skins, unfined and unfiltered. Dirty Vermentino to cleanse the soul. So, so good.

Nikkal Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2017

Kick arse Pinot for $25. Perhaps I just leave the review at that? What a treat!

Driftwood Artifacts Meritage 2015

A big brut bursting through its t-shirt.

Nocton Vineyard Chardonnay 2015

A label I haven't seen before, I bought this off the shelf with a hankering for a glass of Chardonnay. Tassie Chardonnay - I couldn't go wrong, could I?

Katnook Founder's Block Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Fresh and tropical fruit driven, this makes for easy drinking when the mercury rises.

Huntington Estate Special Reserve Semillon 2016

Coming off 50 year old vines, the aim of this wine was to emulate the success of Hunter Valley Semillons but highlighted by Mudgee's 'softer acid and floral flavours to complement the lemon and a touch of grassiness'. Top Gold at the 2017 Mudgee Wine Show.

Golden Grove Estate Joven Tempranillo 2017

Year after year this Joven is pursued with haste and sold out in quick time as a result. A superb drink in anyone's language. The juicy fruit the pièce de résistance. Run to this, don't walk.

Geoff Merrill McLaren Vale Reserve Shiraz 2011

From the dreaded 2011 vintage. A challenging year but one where the good winemakers stood up and worked their magic. Case in point here. A more than enjoyable wine.

Brash Higgins Riesling Semillon 2017

Hello sunshine and hello seafood! A blend which is a little something different but deserves a whole lotta love. Brad Hickey is a McLaren Vale winemaker worth keeping an eye out for: quality + creativity.

Singlefile Wines Single Vineayrd Frankland River Shiraz 2016

Find a comfy chair, loosen the belt and relax to embrace the deliciousness. Oozing chill out factor, this is a Shiraz that's easy to fall in love with.

Witches Falls Wild Ferment Tempranillo 2017

There's no hero variety coming from the Granite Belt. Although so many work well, some are more consistent than others. Tempranillo is a variety which always seems to strike the right chord. Here's another example. Coming from a site on the northern end of Ballandean, this is the first Tempranillo produced by Witches Falls.

Nikkal Rosé 2017

Hand up if you have bought a wine based on the label? Yup, me too. We all have. And in many cases, you are left disappointed with what's inside. These Nikkal wines from Kate Goodman not only possess smashing shelf appeal, but the wine inside is cracking. Here's a terrific Rosé to sit back with and cool your heels.

Peos Estate Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2017

Tasty Chardonnay from Manjimp which sits just north-east of Pemberton in Western Australia.

Brash Higgins Grenache Mataro 2016

A silky ride on the magic carpet to happiness. Such a beautiful drink.

Hayes Family Wines Ebenezer Shiraz 2016

Here's a big brooding type. Old school Barossa if you will. As dark as the night's sky, this is all bulging biceps and chest pumped out.

Nikkal Chardonnay 2017

A lovely Chardonnay release from Kate Goodman. With a striking label, this is a damn easy wine to kick back with. Better still, any friends you have who see Chardonnay as dense, weighty and buttery - throw them a glass of this. Conversion is sure to follow.

Geoff Merrill Bush Vine Grenache Rosé 2017

An easy slurp to wash away a long work week. A little texture, a whole lot of fun. Bush Vine Grenache hand-picked from 60-90 year old vines.

Patina Scandelous Riesing 2016

"I have a fascination with Riesling," says owner and winemaker Gerald Naef. I know that feeling all too well Gerald.
Inspired by the off-dry Rieslings of Germany comes this wine retaining 24 grams of residual sugar.

Allegiance Wines Unity Barossa Shiraz 2014

Tasted blind along with some other Shiraz wines, you could have knocked me over with a breath of air when I later read the press release that stated the RRP is $100. Wowsers!

TarraWarra Estate Pinot Noir 2016

Such a pretty little thing. As with the Estate Chardonnay release, here's a label that rarely misses the target.

Lowe Wines Organic Zinfandel 2013

Awarded the best Organic wine at the Mudgee Wine Show 2017. Zinfandel (also known as Primitivo) is big in the US.

Higher Plane The Messenger 2012

A classic Bordeaux blend of five varieties, each contributing delivering a sophisticated wine which will reward cellaring for beyond a decade.

Peos Estate Four Kings Pinot Noir 2017

Three Peos Estate wines landed on the doorstep. A new label to me, no information came with them. No RRP, no specs. As per the website: Manjimup has been home to the Macedonian-born Peos family for more than 80 years. With viticulture in their historical veins, brothers Vic, John, Kon and Chris banded together in 1996 to create their dream vineyard as a legacy to their late father, Jim Peos, and late grandfather, P.Y. Peos. The Four Kings range is named after the four Peos brothers. 

Yelland & Papps Vermentino 2017

Tropical goodness coming at you in spades. Chill hard and refreshment is a breeze. Easy drinking Vermentino from the Barossa Valley.

TarraWarra Estate Chardonnay 2016

Always a beaut Chardy. So much packed into a little package. It's more than an 'entry level' wine that's for sure.

Cooks Lot Allotment 8989 Cabernet Merlot 2016

Easy drinking and easy on the back pocket. Soft fruit and smooth edges highlight this release.

Allegiance Wines Fullylove Cabernet Merlot 2014

Margaret River Cabernet Merlot. Good varietal aromas start things off,  think roasted peppers, leafy blackcurrant and red plums flanked by some oak.

Naked Lady Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

The label caught my attention immediately - only to find out that Naked Lady Wines is actually named after a South African bulb flower which is prominent throughout the vineyard. Awarded the Best Cabernet Sauvignon at the Mudgee Wine Show 2017.

Bird Dog Brut NV

A bit of fizzy fun to cure your thirst. Lots of refreshment factor.

Patina Riesling 2016

Zesty, minerally and crisp Riesling from the Orange region's Mt Canobolas.

Ballandean Estate Messing About Durif 2016

A wine ready to take aim for a long stint in the cellar but drinks well now ready for a big piece of meat beside it.

Mitchell Wines Sevenhill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

How the team at Mitchell Wines can release a wine at 8 years of age for $30 and make money has me scratching my head. But take the business cap off and the consumer hat on and all signs say run to this - don't walk. Superb cool climate Cabernet from an ever-reliable producer.

Hayes Family Wines Regional Series Mataro 2017

Damn this just feels good. Mataro is so underrated. Often the wingman, here's a top example of the variety standing on its own two feet. Take a bow winemaker Mr Seppelt.

Ridgemill Estate The Spaniard Tempranillo 2015

Pizza night and a glass or two of this will do just fine. A Crianza style Tempranillo.

Heartland Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

If you're on the hunt for a Cabernet for around $20, you won't be disappointed by this Heartland release.

Shaw Vineyard Estate Winemakers Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

A solid entry level Cabernet from the Canberra district.

Allegiance Wines Fully Love Pinot Noir 2016

Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir. Quite dense and tight, there are good varietal characters at play.

Tim Smith Grenache 2016

Meet Tim Smith - and then get to know his wines. Meticulous, clever, freakin tasty gear from top to toe. Grenache from 80+ year-old vineyards made by a guy who knows his stuff.

Higher Plane Margaret River Fiano 2017

This is the first Margaret River Fiano I have had the privilege of looking at.

Worlds Apart Wines Blewitt Springs 2017

McLaren Vale Grenache done different. Really different...

Allegiance Wines Unity McLaren Vale Shiraz 2015

A wine dedicated to wine writer and industry figure Tony Keys. It's good to see a picture of him on the back label too - the last time I saw Tony was a couple of years ago at dinner after the Coonawarra Roadshow. We were sitting back eating Greek and sipping on Riesling discussing this and that. He's passed since succumbing to illness. No doubt he is drinking Champagne in the sky as I write this.

Witches Falls Garnacha 2016

Bright, red fruits skip about, it's laced with delicate spices too - lots of glug factor about this Garnacha.

Allegiance Wines Unity Barossa Valley GSM 2015

A back label which is inspiring - a tribute to Erik de Haart who survived the Bali bombings in 2002. There's a link for www.donatelife.gov.au there too. Nice touch. Easy to see why it's called the Unity range.

Higher Plane Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Tropical fruits spill from the glass. I barely poured a glass and its waft couldn't be curtailed.

Yalumba The Tri-Centenary Grenache 2013

Gorgeous Grenache from 820 bush vines classed as ancient - planted in 1889. Handpicked and treated with kid gloves, just under 4000 bottles are produced.

Singlefile Wines Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Sem Sauv with the top button done up and slick Windsor knot for added sophistication.