Ata Rangi’s Kotinga Pinot Noir received its inaugural release with the 2020 vintage. The vineyard, established in 2001 on the edge of the Martinborough terrace, is a free-draining site planted to Dijon clones 115, 667, and 777. Kotinga is a high-energy wine that’s made to show off its bright fruits—cherry, currant, plum—supple tannins, and sleek, fluid acidity. Kotinga is fermented with indigenous yeasts and 40% whole bunches. After two to three weeks in tank, the wine is pressed, and malolactic fermentation is completed in oak. For 11 months, Kotinga is aged in very large 2280 litre foudre, rather than small barriques, to preserve the naturally bright character of Dijon clone pinot noir grown in gravelly soil.

Ata Rangi’s Masters Pinot Noir received its inaugural release with the 2020 vintage. The vineyard, owned and farmed by Ata Rangi winemaker Helen Masters, lies just four kilometres south of the Martinborough terrace. Here, clay is naturally found throughout the gravelly soil and it helps to retain moisture, and keep temperatures cooler than typical Martinborough terroir. Masters is a kaleidoscopic expression of pinot noir, featuring aromas of mulberry, baking spices, rosewater, and blood orange, and a palate of rich fruit, pomegranate, nutmeg, and pink peppercorn. The influence of clay soils provides Masters with its expansive, signature texture. Masters is fermented with indigenous yeasts and 70% whole bunches. After two to three weeks in tank, the wine is pressed, and malolactic fermentation is completed in oak. Masters is aged in French oak (30% new) for 11 months, before it is blended, and then held for a further eight months before it is bottled.

Sourced from vineyards surrounding Canberra, the Clonakilla O'Riada Shiraz has been lovingly embraced as little brother to the iconic Shiraz Viognier. Also co-fermented with a touch of Viognier, the O'Riada shows a more fruit forward presence, yet still with that unmistakable Tim Kirk elegance and purity that is a theme throughout all of his wines.

Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon is one of Australia's great white wines and has the capacity to age superbly in the bottle. This release continues the recent immaculate line up of Vat 1s that show classic citrus floral and honey aromas. The palate is dry, yet full-flavoured with lovely crisp acidity. Still only a relative baby in terms of Vat 1s longevity, this bottle will reward you for decades to come.

What a magnificent wine! A pioneer in the modern Australian Chardonnay stakes, the Vat 47 from the Hunter Valley has a silky bouquet of melon stone fruit and creamy oak that is followed by a palate of extraordinary balance and length. An absolute classic and will only get better with some medium term ageing.

St Hallett Old Block Shiraz, first vintage 1980, is a stalwart of the Barossa and a stalwart of Langton's Classification of Australian Wine. A blend of oldvine Shiraz (average age 90 years) from key sites in the Barossa and Eden Valleys, Old Block is one of Barossas finest.

'Black Label' Cabernet Sauvignon, which was first vintaged in 1954, has evolved markedly over the decades. It is arguably Australia's most recognised Cabernet Sauvignon, and has more than any other, helped define Coonawarra. The wine is matured in new and seasoned French oak for 12 to 18 months. A classic Coonawarra Cabernet with pristine dark berry/ cassis aromas, fine grained tannins and underlying savoury nuances, it develops into a rich, chocolaty wine with age. In a super vintage, this wine can look astonishingly like a 2nd or 3rd growth Bordeaux with its pure cassis aromas and cedary complexity. See Chief Winemaker Sue Hodder speak about the spectacular 2015 release: