Wine by Brad 2007 Cabernet Merlot

Quirky, fun, affordable and extremely easy to drink - that's the best way of summing up the wines from this innovative Margaret River producer. When you get a richly flavoured cab merlot oozing with dark cassis flavours, hints of chocolate and mint with some unobtrusive French oak adding just the right amount of complexity then you have to be impressed, At $18 and just 13.5% alcohol you have to snap some up.

Paul Mas 2008 Chardonnay

I challenge anyone to name a better-value chardonnay than this little ripper from the Languedoc region of southern France. A glorious drink-now style from the same folks who produce Arrogant Frog, it follows an equally impressive 07 release. There's plenty of peachy/tropical fruit flavour here, but also some surprising elegance and nice acid on the finish. I'd happily drink a bottle of this - and I can't say that about many $8.99 wines. Exclusively from Dan Murphy.

Jacob’s Creek St Hugo 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

It may be a “big company” wine but it’s clear plenty of care and attention has gone into this rich, full-bodied but extremely elegant Coonawarra cabernet that has benefited from bottle aging and will continue to improve for the next decade. Concentrated and beautifully integrated, this is well worth $44.

De Bortoli 2007 Yarra Valley Reserve Release Pinot Noir

Steve Webber’s reserve releases are setting the benchmark in the Yarra Valley right now. This is a superb pinot; hugely aromatic with appealing balance between intense fruit flavours, savoury nuances and supple tannins on the palate. It’s complex and textured. Partner this with roast duck and you have a feast fit for king. $45.

Austins 2007 Geelong Pinot Noir

The Austin family have built a formidable reputation for the quality of their pinots noir from the Bellarine Peninsula - and this is one of their best yet, with generous, yet undeniably varietal characters, that are matched by structure and texture on the palate. A splendid drink. $29.