This Yarra Valley chardonnay marries creaminess and lemony freshness with a flinty tension giving it a wonderful energy on the focused full-bodied palate. Positive tannins anchor it at the long, positively dry finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Ray Guerin planted the Applejack Vineyard in 1997, and Sexton purchased it in 2013. The vines face northeast on a hillside in the Upper Yarra, yielding a sunny wine that feels open, even as there's a tight-fleshed coolness to its bright cherry fruit. That contrast plays out in a delicate, lightly voluptuous pinot, a textural pleasure that lasts on fragrance. Beautiful to drink now, this should age with grace.

Pure and focused, with a laser beam of lemon meringue, fleshy mandarin orange and orange sherbet showing incredible intensity and concentration. This remains light on its feet and focused, thanks to fresh acidity, with details of matcha and dried apricot for extra dimension on the finish. Drink now through 2027.

Burgundian-like reduction of crushed stone and oyster shell – a certain flinty character Weerts says comes from a special site in Barrydale. Then, layers of limey, austere citrus, steel and crushed chalk. The palate is unwaveringly driven, with a tight linear acidity complemented by a skeleton of oak spice that tapers into a dry, crisp finish. 14%

Fragrant lemon balm, flowers and white citrus mark out the nose. There’s an inherent joy to this wine. On entry, a vibrant twist of freshly squeezed lime, then the freshness of nectarine stone fruits along with a compelling chalky texture and a properly mouthwatering line of saline acid. 14%

Aromas of yuzu pith, orange peel, light mint and a focused dairy element invite the nose deep into this complex bottling. The palate grips with stunning intensity, taking the wine through a citrus maze of lime, lemon and grapefruit as that underlying earth and dairy quality adds depth.

This appellation blend is even more compelling than some of this vintage’s single-block expressions. Aromas of lemon peel, apricot, chamomile, mint, yogurt and seashore make for a dynamic nose. The palate is lined with a minty shiso leaf flavor that carries through the lemon-confit core, with tart freshness that enlivens the mouth.

This brand’s familiarly juicy red-fruit aromas of candied pomegranate, red cherry and strawberry lure the nose deep into this bottling, which also offers red spice and light herb. The palate is fresh, fun and delightful, with snappy red-fruit
flavors as well as more complex notes of lemon rind and rooibos tea.

Ripe cherry aromas with underlying hints of herb and mace are fresh and fun on the nose of this appellation expression. The delicious palate offers baked strawberry compote, dark mint cream and concentrated hibiscus flavors.

Inky purple. Ripe black and blue fruit, floral and spice qualities on the deeply perfumed nose; incense and smoky mineral nuances emerge as the wine opens up. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering concentrated cassis, cherry preserve, blueberry and violet pastille flavors given spicy bite by a jolt of cracked pepper. Youthfully firm tannins add grip to a very long, chewy finish that leaves spice and dark fruit liqueur notes behind.

Dark, vivid magenta. Vibrant, spice-tinged red and blue fruit and floral scents show fine detail and mineral lift. Juicy and energetic in style, offering appealingly sweet Chambord and boysenberry flavors that deepen steadily with aeration. Smooth, slowly emerging tannins add shape to a very long, spicy finish that strongly echoes the berry notes.

Saturated violet. A complex bouquet evokes spice-accented red and blue fruits, pungent flowers, vanilla and exotic spices, and a smoky mineral flourish emerges with aeration. Juicy and well-concentrated but lithe as well, offering appealingly sweet black raspberry, cherry and mulberry flavors underscored by a vein of zesty acidity. Shows fine definition and spicy lift on the youthfully tannic finish, which strongly echoes the blue fruit and floral notes.

Deep ruby. Lush cherry-cola, blackberry and mocha qualities on the deeply perfumed nose, which is complemented by suggestions of candied rose and vanilla. In a round, generous style, offering sweet dark berry and fruitcake flavors that are supported by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Pliant tannins frame an impressively long, sappy finish that strongly repeats the cherry and floral notes. 50% new French oak.

Deep ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes cassis, cherry and blueberry, and smoke and vanilla nuances build in the glass. Sappy and precise on the palate, offering appealingly sweet dark fruit and floral pastille flavors that show liqueur-like depth and surprising energy. Closes on a gently tannic note, with excellent clarity, repeating spiciness and strong, spicy cling. Raised in new and used French oak barrels for 15 months.

Inky magenta. A deeply perfumed, oak-tinged bouquet evokes black and blue fruit preserves, cured tobacco, incense and mocha. Alluringly sweet and expansive on the palate, offering concentrated blackberry, cherry-vanilla and bitter chocolate flavors braced by a core of smoky minerality. Finishes impressively long, with strong, spicy thrust, a resonating vanilla note and round, slowly building tannins.

Glass-staining violet. Mineral- and smoke-accented red and dark berries, vanilla and potpourri on the deeply perfumed nose, along with a hint of cracked pepper. Juicy cherry liqueur, black raspberry and fruitcake flavors are supported by an undercurrent of smoky minerality that adds energetic lift and cut. Shows a suave floral nuance on the impressively long finish, which is framed by smooth, harmonious tannins. 30% new French oak.

Light, glistening yellow. Vibrant, high-pitched citrus and orchard fruit aromas are complemented by smoky mineral, jasmine and anise flourishes. Juicy and tightly focused, offering intense lemon zest, green apple and quince flavors that pick up a spicy ginger nuance on the back half. Finishes with outstanding clarity and mineral cut, leaving sappy Meyer lemon and floral notes behind.

Shimmering red. Fresh red fruit and floral qualities on the incisive, highly perfumed nose. Lithe and finely etched on the palate, offering juicy raspberry, red currant and bitter cherry flavors and a sweetening touch of candied rose. A zesty blood orange note adds bite and cut to a very long, lively finish framed by subtle, fine-grained tannins. There's no fat on this Pinot's bones but it doesn't come off as austere. Think Pernand-Vergelesses, and a really good one at that.

Vivid straw-yellow. Pungent, mineral-accented citrus pith, pear nectar, white peach and iodine aromas, along with subtle fennel and jasmine notes. Subtly chewy and focused on the palate, offering intense orchard and citrus fruit flavors and deeper marzipan and buttered toast flourishes. Closes very long and smoky, with a spicy ginger note and building florality.

Deep, glistening ruby-red. Ripe, mineral-accented red and blue fruits, incense, musky earth and candied flowers on the seductively perfumed nose. Sappy and alluringly sweet on the palate, offering juicy cherry, black raspberry, savory herb and vanilla flavors along with an exotic Asian spice nuance. Fine-grained and seamless in texture, delivering round, slowly building tannins and an impressively long finish that leaves kirsch and floral notes behind.

Translucent ruby-red. Intensely perfumed Chambord, cherry cola, incense and potpourri aromas show fine definition and hints of woodsmoke, vanilla and succulent herbs. Blends fruity and savory character with a deft hand, offering earth-tinged red fruit, spicecake, botanical herb and floral pastille flavors that turn sweeter through the back half. Fine-grained tannins add shape to the impressively long finish, which echoes the floral and spice notes.

Limpid ruby-red. Vibrant, mineral- and spice-tinged red fruit and floral scents show fine clarity and hints of musky earth and incense. Energetic raspberry, bitter cherry, red currant and exotic spice flavors steadily deepen and turn sweeter as the wine opens up. Closes very long and precise, showing outstanding clarity and resonating mineral and floral notes.

Refined and polished yet deeply structured, with expressive red currant, dried herbs and hints of stony minerality that build tension and richness toward big but polished tannins. Drink now through 2030.

Medium deep crimson. Fragrant pure blackberry, musky plum aromas with underlying vanilla notes. Well concentrated and ultra-ripe blackberry, spicy/ hint cloves flavours, some stone fruit notes, fine looseknit chalky textures, very good mid palate volume and underlying vanilla, mocha notes. Finishes slinky and long. Plush fruit, elegant structure. Fascinating wine. Maturation in 30% new and seasoned French oak puncheons for 10 months and then 25hL foudre and a 18hL concrete egg for 8 months. Drink now – 2030

An international style of Chardonnay with a subtle South African accent, Fijnbosch comes from a steep north-facing, clay-rich site in the Banghoek Valley. Dense and concentrated, with honeysuckle, fynbos and saffron aromas, cream, toffee and lemon and lime flavours and lots of extract.