Medhurst 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

Former Domaine Chandon winemaker Matt Steel is doing some excellent work at Medhurst in the Yarra Valley. First planted by owners Ross and Robyn Wilson in 2000, the vineyard is now producing some excellent red wines, with the 2012 shiraz and pinot noir also outstanding. This is delightful cool-climate cabernet, intensely purple in colour with a panoply of red and black fruit characters on the palate, hints of Asian spice mix and some judicious oak. Well-balanced and with plenty of power, this is well worth seeking out for those who prefer finesse in their reds rather than brute force. $30. www.medhurstwines.com.au.

Kerrigan + Berry 2013 Riesling

Michael Kerrigan is the vastly experienced winemaker at Hay Shed Hill in Margaret River and his friend Gavin Berry is the long-time winemaker at West Cape Howe. Both have decades of experience and make the K+B wines as a diversion. This wine is made from fruit grown on 40+ year-old vines on the Langton Vineyard at Mount Barker in the Great Southern region, which is fast becoming one of Australia's best sources of riesling. This is a classic Australian dry riesling; intense with lashings of citrus and minerality, along with some impressive precision and a great acid backbone. It is wonderfully thirst-quenching and will probably age well, too, although my guess is most of it will be consumed young. It would be a delight with a Thai banquet. $30. www.kerriganandberry.com.au.     

Hurley Vineyard 2012 Lodestone Pinot Noir

Take a pair of high-flying legal eagles who turned wine from a hobby to a mini industry and quickly built a reputation for high-class Mornington Peninsula pinot and you have Hurley Vineyard. The brainchild of judge Kevin Bell and solicitor Tricia Byrnes, Hurley Vineyard has over the past decade emerged as a beacon of quality single-site pinots made with tremendous care and affection. In 2012, a cracking vintage, all three vineyards; Garamond, Lodestone and Hommage, shone. While the Garamond and the Hommage will cellar brilliantly, the Lodestone stood out for me for current drinking with a its bright dark fruit, judicious oak and smooth lusciousness on the palate. I'm not afraid to admit that my bottle simply evaporated. Be quick, because there are only 300 cases of each wine made. $70. www.hurleyvineyard.com.au.      

Singlefile 2012 Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon

Over the past couple of vintages I have become aware of the consistent quality being produced by Singlefile Wines, based at Denmark in Western Australia's Great Southern region but with access to fruit across a broad sweep of the state's vineyards. This wine, however, stands out even from the pack of outstanding 2012 cabernets from the west. It is a downright lovely drink; with that elusive interplay between fruit, oak and savoury characters right on the money. Stylish, sophisticated and very approachable even in its youth, this would be a brilliant accompaniment to a lamb en croute. $37. www.singlefilewines.com.