The Mader domaine is a very small quantity, high quality wine producer based in the picture postcard village of Hunawihr in the middle of vineyards on the Route des Vins. A fine dry Riesling with texture and depth. Intense floral citrus and lime aromas with mineral backing and wonderful acid backbone.

A lovely and unusual Sauvignon Blanc from Hawkes Bay. It is barrel-fermented with a touch of Semillon and Sauvignon Gris. This wine has aromas of citrus blossom, pear and stone fruit and will evolve in the bottle for five years from harvest.

dArenberg The Stump Jump Shiraz is a deep ruby red hued wine presenting a crimson haze. A whiff of the wine pleases your nose with dark and red fruit aromas including perfumes of blackberry, mulberry, raspberry and plum. These fragrances are replicated on the rich palate, where they intermix with flavours of liquorice, vanilla, baking spice, and subtle earthy notes. Supported by fine tannins, these magnificent characters offer a creamy and succulent mouthfeel. The finish is long and refreshing. This delightful Shiraz has been crafted for immediate consumption, but can also be cellared for 2 to 5 years from vintage. Serve this enticing red wine alongside deer burger served with Quebec cheese and barbecue sauce to unveil its full flavour potential.

Paringa Estate Peninsula Pinot Noir Mornington Peninsula The Paringa wines in the Peninsula range are an haut Mornington Peninsulathe emphasis being on the liveliness of the fruit. 'The quality of these wines are often equal to many other vineyards best'- James Halliday The fruit is de-stemmed and fermented in large open fermenters. The fruit spends around three weeks on skins. Maturation takes place on lees over the better part of a year in French Oak barrels. Shop Paringa

For John Hughes, the attraction to Riesling is all encompassing. Growing up on a small vineyard in the Clare Valley, and going on to work with some of the brightest Riesling makers in the country before launching his own venture, John is never far away from his beloved grape. John makes classic Australian styles from carefully selected vineyards with an emphasis on purity and site reflection, as well as German-inspired expressions that balance acidity and sugar with singular precision.

For John Hughes, the attraction to Riesling is all encompassing. Growing up on a small vineyard in the Clare Valley, and going on to work with some of the brightest Riesling makers in the country before launching his own venture, John is never far away from his beloved grape. John makes classic Australian styles from carefully selected vineyards with an emphasis on purity and site reflection, as well as German-inspired expressions that balance acidity and sugar with singular precision.

Within Kiedrich’s Gräfenberg Grand Cru lies a small 0.5-hectare parcel once known as the Gräfenberg-Lay. Sitting in one of the steepest portions of the vineyard, the Lay is located at the transition between Gräfenberg and Turmberg and is known for having the highest concentration of phyllite slate on the hill. The vines here are now between 40 and 60 years old. This site was originally purchased by Dr Robert Weil in the 19th century, using the dowry from his marriage to Emilie von Vacano (a descendant of the Vacano family in Lombardy). The wine from this parcel, called Monte Vacano (the Hill of Vacano) was always produced and bottled alone. It was used only for celebratory occasions and never released for sale. Following Weil's death in 1921, the tradition of Monte Vacano fell dormant, and the fruit was incorporated into a regular Gräfenberg bottling. Compared to the Gräfenberg GG, Monte Vacano trades power and richness for exceptional purity, elegance and detail. Resurrecting the old custom, 2021 marks the fourth Riesling in a century made solely from this special lieu-dit. It was harvested in October, and the grapes were whole bunch-pressed into two ancient refurbished Stückfässer (1,200-litre casks) where the wine fermented wild and spent almost two years on lees before bottling.

The structure is defined by wonderful balance. The style is vigorous and frank, with a surprisingly rich middle palate, finishing with lively vivacity. Domaine Christian Salmon Sancerre leaves one with an overall sensation of elegance and harmony

The thrilling energy of this splendid season charges it with a vibrancy and definition that places this blend on a plateau elevated high above even the lofty heights that this cuvee has attained under the new Charles Heidsieck. In searching for any other entry non-vintage cuvee to which to compare it, I can fathom none short of the mesospheric heights of Krug itself. In sheer age (current Krug Grande Cuvee is only one year older) and depth of reserves, this Charles Heidsieck splendidly upholds its elevated position among Champagne's richer NVs... In sheer, breathtaking calibre for the price, this is the greatest Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve I can remember. It deserves to be the house champagne we all have chilled perpetually at the ready this year. Rating: 96/100.