Syrahmi 2008 Maelstrom Heathcote Shiraz

Adam Foster is the sommelier at the Lake House in Daylesford, one of regional Australia's most outstanding restaurants. He's also a winemaker of considerable ability, as is underlined by this impressive shiraz made from fruit grown at Heathcote in central Victoria. It's a powerful and expressive wine with toasty oak prominent but also shows some restraint - not an easy trick to pull off. Fabulous drinking even in its youth. $50.

Thomas 2009 The O.C. Semillon

Not Orange County - Oakey Creek. Andrew Thomas is the master of Hunter semillon, both with wines designed for drinking young - like this one - and those made for ageing. This has just 12.3% alcohol, fresh, zingy citrus flavours, searing minerality and refreshing acid. Chill this, pair it with some oysters or prawns and you won't go far wrong. $23.

Wild Oats 2008 Tempranillo

There are few wines better suited to the Australian lifestyle than the Spanish varietal tempranillo. This fruit-driven number from the King Valley in Victoria is soft, smooth and terrifically easy to drink. It can even be chilled a little on hot summer days. It's a bright, cheerful wine with oak playing an almost subliminal role and it would be great with a barbecue, or with pasta and pizza dishes. A wine for enjoying rather than analysing. Terrific value at $18.

Voyager Estate 2007 Chardonnay

Balance is the key to this beautifully-made wine - one that demonstrates precisely why chardonnay is on the way back. Barrel-fermented and matured in 40% new oak, it has all the bells and whistles but it is the quality fruit that shines through with pear and grapefruit flavours to the fore. A wine of purity and finesse that has much in common with some of the great white wines of Burgundy. $42.