Taylors 2010 St Andrews Riesling

To paraphrase the old Kenny Rogers song: "You've got to know when to hold 'em; know when to drink 'em." And that's where you are likely to run into trouble with this wine. The top-of-the-range Taylors riesling is a delightful drink in its youth with attractive floral aromas and pristine fruit with citrus nuances. The trouble is, though, that this is also a wine that cellars superbly. A recent tasting of the still youthful but brilliantly maturing 2007 vintage confirmed its potential over the next decade. The best solution: Buy at least two bottles. Enjoy one and put one away. $40.

Deviation Road 2010 Pinot Gris

Hamish and Kate Laurie at Deviation Road have been making some very fine wines from the Adelaide Hills for a couple of years now - I have several enthusiastic tasting notes that have not made it into print. This new release blew me away, however. It's definitely one of Australia's best pinots gris while not being without the freshness and crispness of the grigio style. The fruit was picked at two different levels of ripeness and partial barrel fermentation has added complexity, although the wine is definitely fruit driven. Think crisp, waxy pears and beguiling textures. $25.

Patritti 2010 Jimmy's Hat

If you are looking for a darn good drink that won't break the bank over the holiday period you won't go far wrong with this fresh and appealing blend of Adelaide Hills savagnin, arneis and pinot gris. Along with citrus and apple blossom aromas, there's plenty of character on the palate (with lemon zest and lanolin to the fore), the wine is nicely balanced, food-friendly and relatively low in alcohol at 12%. It is a great summer quaffer, a good match for barbecued seafood, and the price is defintely right. www.patritti.com.au. $12.50.

Zeppelin 2009 Northern Barossa Valley Grenache

Grenache is just so untrendy right now as a stand-alone varietal which is both bad news and good news. The bad news is it can be hard to track down good grenaches, the good news is that when you do find one the price is likely to be right - and this is a really impressive wine for the price. Made by Corey Ryan and Kym Teusner, it is a rich, opulent red made from 60+ years old vines that was created using minimalist winemaking techniques. This wine really is all about the fruit. It's a juicy, spicy number, vibrant and in your face, but never over the top. A great choice for a summer barbecue with the cricket on the radio. $18.

De Bortoli 2010 La Boheme Act Two Rosé

The recent 'Rose Revolution' tastings held across Australia were designed to promote awareness of the new style of savoury, textural, dry rosés, which are a million miles away from the old fairy floss styles and far food friendlier. Steve Webber and Leanne de Bortoli were prime movers behind the movement and, as luck would have it, one of their salmon/rust pink rosés came out in front of 24 other new wave rosés I tasted with a group of wine lovers that evening. Made from Yarra Valley pinot noir with just a hint of pinot gris added, this is a sensationally good wine for the price. Aromatic, savoury, spicy, pale and bone dry it was a terrific companion for Lebanese nibbles and dips.$18.

Ducks In A Row 2009 Erect Habit Mataro

Glenn James-Pritchard spent 15 years as a winemaker with Southcorp/Foster's/Treasury Wine Estates before leaving to focus on his own wine label, Ducks in a Row, which allows him to specialise in lesser-known varieties like fiano, vermentino and this muscular and intense mataro (also known as mourvedre). Made from McLaren Vale fruit from 60-year-old vines, this is quite an imposing wine; uncompromisingly dark and inky with rich black/blue berry and currant fruit flavours and a tannin structure that suggests it will cellar for a minimum of decade, perhaps much longer. Love the colourful Mirka Mora label, too. www.ducksinarow.com.au. $60.

Hidden Talent 2009 Heathcote Shiraz Edition #1

Several small winemakers have grouped together to retail small batches of boutique wines that are sold - like cleanskins - without details of the producer appearing on the label. That means buyers get great value for money (the wines are all a tenner each) but need to buy in bulk. Among the stars in the first release of Hidden Talent wines are this juicy/savoury/peppery medium-bodied shiraz from Heathcote in Victoria and a 2009 Clare Valley Riesling Edition #1. Both are terrific wines for the price. Available online only at www.hiddentalentwines.com. $10.