Hamelin Bay 2009 Five Ashes Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Some wines have a certain something about them - and this stood out from the crowd in a recent tasting. It's a delightful mature cabernet (with 4% of merlot) from vineyards in the far south of Margaret River with a blackberry/earthy nose leading to a plush palate with dark fruit and attractive savoury notes. The 30% new French oak has been seamlessly integrated in a wine that blossoms when served with rich meat dishes. Don't linger; this full-bodied red is drinking beautifully right now. $28.  www.bhwines.com.au. 

Yelland and Papps 2011 Delight Vin de Soif

When I popped into Yelland and Papps in the Barossa the other day, I was much taken by their rustic chic cellar door - along with their entry-level 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon ($16) and the delicious 2012 Delight Vermentino. Possibly even more impressive, however, given the vagaries of the 2011 vintage, is this wine in the same fun range as the vermentino; a blend of grenache, mataro, shiraz and carignan that's made in an easy-drinking Rhone style. It's delightfully soft and juicy with savoury hints and plushness on the palate. A red that could even take a few minutes' chilling in the fridge this summer - and an excellent choice for sipping while watching the cricket. $20.   

Teusner 2012 Joshua

Here’s a wine for lovers of Barossa power that is completely under control; for wines with flavour but also impeccable balance, even elegance. Kym Teusner is one of the most talented young winemakers in the Barossa Valley and this is a delicious unoaked and fruit-forward blend of three classic regional varieties; grenache, mataro and shiraz. From what is being praised as a stellar year for Barossa reds, this is has a summer pudding nose and is a soft, plush almost indecently pleasurable wine; plummy but pristine and offering immediate drinking pleasure. $28.

Voyager Estate 2012 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

This wine is the vinous version of a delightful summer day. It's bright, fresh and vibrant and undoubtedly one of the best of the many West Australian SBS or SSB blends I've seen from the strong 2012 vintage. What I liked most about it was its lightness of presence; it's faintly aromatic with a tangy, flinty, citrusy goodness on the palate. A small portion of the blend has undergone barrel fermentation to add textural interest but it is youthful exuberance that is this wine's strength. It would best be enjoyed in its youth, chilled, with good food and friends. $24. www.voyagerestate.com.au