Drappier's rosé champagne is made in a fresh and fruity style. This creamy textured and well-balanced champagne serves up mouth-watering cherry and red berry flavours. A real crowd-pleaser and terrific value.

The Grande Sendrée is Drappier's luxury cuvée. Rich and intense, complex and elegant with lovely hints of white peach. A full-flavoured cuvée that will make Sunday brunch a thing of beauty. In the world of luxury cuvées, this represents an exceptional value.

Robert Parker Jr. appears to be a fan of this domaine. He remarked: "This was one of the first Languedoc-Roussillon estates to fully exploit the potential that exists in this windswept, sunny region. I have had the pleasure of buying, cellaring, and drinking all of the Mas de Daumas Gassac reds since 1978." (www.erobertparker.com) Hailing from France's 'New World', this Languedoc red is well-structured yet it also displays an exuberant fruitiness. A lovely wine that will be a hit at any dinner party. Enjoy over the next 3-5 years.

A Gold Medal winner at Paris' prestigious Vinalies internationales in 2006. Aged for 18 months in new oak casks, the Amethystos conjures up multiple aromatic layers from its delicious, sweet black fruit to its underpinning notes of coffee, mint, eucalyptus and herbs. A great candidate for mid-term cellaring (3-5 years) or exquisite now with pheasant.

Pergole Vece is Le Salette's flagship wine. This modern styled Amarone is made only in the best years from a selection of their finest grapes and sourced from their three top vineyards. It is cellar worthy but will shine now when matched with pheasant or mature cheeses.

Giuseppe Quintarelli's wines inspire the mild mannered and reserved to be uncontrollably effusive. His wines are legendary for a very good reason. “When you meet Bepi Quintarelli, you are instinctively reminded of Michelangelo.”(2005 Gambero Rosso Italian Wines). His Rosso Ca'del Merlo is a single vineyard Valpolicella, though he uses the broader IGT designation. Merlo means bird and is a tribute to a large winged creature that used to sit on a tree glaring down at the workers as they moved through the vineyard.

Robert Parker Jr. is a fan of this white. He has consistently awarded this 'dead-ringer for a top-notch Sauternes' scores in the 90s. In fact, he awarded the 2005 vintage a remarkable 96! Though this recent release had not yet been reviewed, the meticulous winemaking of Michael Twelftree promises more of the same. From its golden, honeyed hue to its abundant caramel, crème brulée and tropical fruit flavours, this wine will hold you spellbound. Delicious now but will keep on giving for a decade or more.

Wine critic, Jeremy Oliver, awarded this wine a score of 93. (www.jeremyoliver.com.au) Aged in one third new French, American and German oak for 20 months, this complex 85% Cabernet, 15% Merlot blend exhibits luscious black fruit flavours with attractive notes of mocha, vanilla, cinnamon and cedar, as well as complementary fine tannins and beautifully integrated oak. Engaging now but this red will be irresistible in about five years.

Winestate Magazine awarded this wine **** (out of five). (www.winestate.com.au)

In the February 2007 issue of Decanter magazine, wine critic Steven Spurrier declared this wine the 'Best New World Red.'

While there were no reviews available at press time, it is noteworthy that Robert Parker Jr. has awarded this luscious blend of 70% Shiraz and 30% Grenache scores in the 90s for the last four consecutive vintages. This exuberant, fruit-forward offering invokes heady aromas of red and black fruits, flowers, toast and spice box. A full-throttle red that will pair nicely with roast duck or beef pot pie.

Launched by Morton Estate from 1998, Coniglio is one of New Zealand's most expensive Chardonnays. A Rolls-Royce version of the company's famous Black Label Chardonnay, it is typically an arresting wine, powerful and concentrated. Grown in the cool, elevated (150 metres above sea level) Riverview vineyard at Mangatahi, Hawke's Bay, it is hand-picked from mature vines and fermented and lees-aged in all-new French oak barriques, with malolactic fermentation according to the season. (Michael Cooper's Buyer's Guide to New Zealand Wines 2007) This wine won the Regional New Zealand Chardonnay Over £10 Trophy at the 2005 Decanter World Wine Awards.

Partial malolactic fermentation permitted the wine to retain its natural, crisp acidity - a hallmark of Russian River Valley fruit. The citrus and mineral bouquet displays delicate aromas of green apple, kiwi, honey and lightly toasted oak. The balance of green apple fruit and crisp acidity provide lasting flavours that make this Chardonnay a beautiful match for salmon potpie.

Started in 2001, this is only the second vintage for this California Boutique winery. Purchasing grapes from the well respected Wurtele Vineyard in the Spring Mountain District, the total production for this wine is only 600 cases. Packed with flavours of ripe mountain cassis, cedar and spice, with a wisp of smoky oak. The palate is rich and concentrated with silky tannins. Though tempting to drink now, it will not show its best for at least two or three more years.

David Arthur is a small Napa winery with a cult following. This unique Bordeaux-Tuscan blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Sangiovese) is one of the reasons. This full-bodied offering exhibits impressive purity and length. A highly accessible red that generously serves up delicious aromas of black fruit and savoury notes of truffles, vanilla, cedar and earth. Enjoy now with 2-3 hours of decanting for optimal enjoyment or let it become even more expressive with 5+ years of cellaring.

Elegance abounds in this medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. Soft tannins and a fine balance focuses one's attention on the fragrant aromas of dark fruit, black currant, dark chocolate, earth and cedar that replay handsomely on the palate. A classic match for roast leg of lamb wrapped in rosemary.

Hitching Post Generation Red is a Cabernet Franc-dominated blend that often includes Merlot and Syrah. The percentages fluctuate depending on the vintage. The 2005 vintage is an extremely well-balanced, very fruit-forward, and structured wine. Delectable with grilled steaks or cellar it 2-4 years.

Highliner is a name taken from the fishing industry where the best fishers on the best boats were so named. Fittingly, Highliner is Hitching Post's top-of-the-line bottling from their best vineyards and their finest vintages. It is an elegant and well-structured wine with aromas of intense dark fruits and hints of white pepper spice all tightly wound in a seamless package. Savour this Pinot with slow-roasted duck or cellar it 3-5 years.

Not surprisingly, Hitching Post is just as popular for its restaurant as it is for its winery because it crafts all of its wines to match with an array of fine foods. Historically, the winery's Santa Maria bottling is elegant yet flavourful that manages to combine refinement and intensity. Try this one with grilled salmon with a light fruit salsa or grilled stuffed pork tenderloin.

Have your own "Sideways" moment with this great Pinot from Hitching Post. Their St. Rita's Earth Pinot is a blend of fruit from three vineyards: Sanford & Benedict, Fiddlestix and Clos Pepe. All three vineyards are located in cooler areas of Santa Rita Hills, so the wines show an exceptional