Zema Estate 2012 Cluny

You never see a bad wine under the Zema Estate label - and this classic Coonawarra blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot offers formidable value for money at under $25 retail. The Zema family are fastidious about their vineyards and winemaker Greg Clayfield has decades of regional experience. Put those factors together and you have wines of real personality. This has seen plummy, spicy fruit spend 14 months in both French and American oak and is a very attractive, easy-drinking style that has enough palate interest and balance to please most red drinkers. $25. www.zema.com.   

Clonakilla 2015 Riesling

Tim Kirk has largely built his reputation on shiraz in various guises, and particularly his shiraz-viognier blend, a cult wine that was first a trendsetter and is now a benchmark. The awesome 2014 now fetches well over $100 a bottle. But there is more to the Clonakilla range than just stellar shirazes. Kirk and fellow winemaker Bryan Martin last year released an outstanding pinot noir, and also do good things with viognier as a stand-alone varietal. But for me the star win of the new Clonakilla releases is a riesling - and 2015 was a cracking riesling year in the Canberra region with Helm and Lark Hill, among others, also producing very fine wines. This is the 40th Clonakilla riesling, and also a candidate for the best. Kirk describes it as "a wondrous year" and this is beautifully brisk and flavoursome. He suggests cellaring; I disagree. This is just too appealing in its youth not to enjoy over summer. $30. www.clonakilla.com.au.    

Oakdene 2013 Peta's Pinot Noir

The Bellarine Peninsula is one of Australia's most under-rated wine producing regions with the best wines among the finest cool-climate offerings to be found anywhere. With 100 % pinot noir from the Geelong region, this is a wine that leaps out of the glass with its drinkability; it has all the appeal of young Labrador puppy and just wants to be loved. This has undergone wild yeast fermentation and a small portion of whole bunch material has been used to add structure. Everything is nicely in balance; there is a perfumed bouquet with red berry and Asian spice notes followed up by a palate with bright fruit along with savoury hints and plenty of length. Fruit-driven, and all the better for that, I'm happy to score it 93/100. $35. www.oakdene.com.au  

Tyrrell's 2015 Vat 63 Chardonnay Semillon

It is not so long ago that chardonnay/semillon blends were all the rage. Somewhat strangely they appear to have fallen from favour, but wines like this underline how well the combination can work. This is one of a number of cracking 2015 whites from Hunter Valley family winery Tyrrell's; a blend of 60% chardonnay and 40% semillon that is both aromatic and textural. A delight to drink. There is bright, sweet fruit here, French oak playing a support role and some crisp, fresh acid on the finish. This wine is mainly available to the winery's Private Bin club members but if you can't track some down there is a very good alternative in the 2015 Part & Parcel blend, a mix of semillon, chardonnay, gewurztraminer and verdehlo has that immediate aromatic appeal. $30. www.tyrrells.com.au

Hesketh 2014 Negroamaro

Negroamaro is a red wine grape variety native to Puglia in southern Italy, where it is usually used in red blends. The wines can often by rustic in nature but here the deep inkiness and earthiness have been tamed by winemaker Phil Lehmann and his team, resulting in a slinky smooth and disarmingly easy-to-drink wine. The fruit is grown by the Kalleske family and the wine has been aged in older French hogsheads, which add texture without any overt oak flavours. The end result is a fruit-driven, medium-bodied red offering immediate enjoyment without being particularly challenging. Great midweek drinking with or without food. $25. www.heskethwinecompany.com.au.  

Achaval-Ferrer 2013 Malbec

This was a stand out at a tasting in Mendoza a few months ago, and it also leapt out of the glass with its elegance and class at a recent importers tasting by Untapped Wines at CoolWine in Hobart. It is wines like this that underline why Argentine malbec has become so popular. It is dark and juicy, smooth and supple, and the perfect companion for a medium-rare fllet steak. Achaval-Ferrer is one of the leading Argentine producers and this is one of the simpler wines in its impressive portfolio. Medium-bodied with some mineral freshness, this is extremely enjoyable in its youth. $66. www.untappedwines.com.au/ 

Walkerville Vineyard 2013 Pinot Noir

Philip Rich is known as wine retailer, wine writer and show judge, but now he is also a wine producer. The Rich family has been farming at Walkerville, in South Gippsland (about 190 kilometres south-east of Melbourne), for over 45 years, mainly producing lamb and beef. They planted a vineyard in 2006 and have just released their first wine, this idiosyncratic and interesting 2013 Pinot Noir made by ex Kooyong winemaker Sando Mosele. It is very fragrant with spicy and minerally elements to the fore, along with red cherry fruit and freshness. Only 220 dozen bottles were made. $55. Available through the Prince Wine Store.