Roman historian Pliny the Elder tells us that Gevrey Chambertin was the first part of Burgundy to be exploited for winemaking, ancient vineyards have been unearthed which date back to the 1st Century BC. The Dugat family arrrived somewhat later during the seventeenth century, they are respected by an elite peerage of vignerons for the uncompromising standards of excellence which they bring to the wines of Cote-d'Or. This artisanal and meticulous Domaine retains three precious blocks of vine, immediately adjacent to the finest vineyards in Gevrey Chambertin.

The viticultural team at Dugat-Py have taken a one way journey back in time, adapting the environmentally sound farming techniques which would have been familiar in the days of horse and plough. Organic fertilizers and mulches are back on the menu, horses have also been harnessed up for duty among the vines. The quality of fruit achieved from this return to the timeless practices of yesteryear, has made a major contribution to the eminence and prestige of Domaine Dugat-Py. From three blocks of Premier Cru vines, a mere hundred dozen each year.

A bottling of the Premier Crus at Fonteny, Corbeaux et Perriere, three choice blocks of vine, a precious endowment, fifty years of age, planted to the immediate periphery of the most illustrious vineyards on Cote de Nuits. Ancient farming techniques and a minimalist approach to the winemaking, whole bunch inclusions and open fermentations in traditional concrete vats, are essential to the virtue and integrity. A year and a half ageing in a selection of the finest, exclusively new oak, completes an eloquent wine of extraordinary elegance and remarkable finesse.

The grands vignobles de Gevrey-Chambertin have commanded the highest prices for millenia, they were Napoleon's favourite wines and served to parch his thirst during history's most infamous battles. Domaine Dugat-Py retain three small but precious parcels of vine very near the source of Bonaparte's brew, now fully mature at fifty years of age, they yield a mere hundred dozen of the finest Premier Cru in the entire commune. The outstanding provenence of fruit is matched by a peerless measure of skill and meticulous attention to detail by Messrs Loc & Bernard Dugat.

An assemblage of fruit from the Premier Crus of Fonteny, Corbeaux et Perriere, all are fortuitously positioned immediately north or east of the stellar Grands Crus at Les Mazis. These auspicious blocks of vine, half a century of age, are planted at the very heart of Gevrey-Chambertin central, sharing their fences with the most famous and invaluable parcels of Pinot Noir in the world. Such are the stature of Gevrey Chambertin, that Dugat-Py treat their Premier Crus to a term of age under the ancient vaulted cellars at Abbaye de Aumônerie.

An extraordinary concentration of the finest vineyards in the world are to be found in the very southwest parts of Gevrey Chambertin. As you enter the commune from the south, the various Climats of Charmes and its satellites, a mere thirty hectares, all appear within the first kilometre of Route N74. The parcels of Dugat-Py are amongst the youngest, they are however the most fastidiously managed, trained to completely organic regimens of viticulture which have remain unchanged for centuries. Fewer than two hundred dozen bottles are made each year.

The invaluable Lieux-dits des Charmes are planted to a crest of superior vineyards along the Routs des Grands Crus. The family of M. Dugat shares a history with the great and timeless appellation of Charmes Chambertin, claiming the prestigious Tasse d’Or for Best Grand Cru. Domaine Dugat-Py are respected by peers and enthusiasts alike, admired for the excellence of their viticulture, venerated for the purity and virtue of their wines, managed from vineyard to bottling, with uncompromising and obsessive attention to detail.

The vines of Charmes Chambertin are planted to rocky brown soils, partly alluvial and rich in limestones clays, a fortuitous mix which yields harvests of the most extraordinary Pinot Noir. Elegantly perfumed, eloquent and statuesque, the wines of Aux Charmes have been revered for centuries by kings and emperors alike. The proprietors of Dugat-Py have been local winegrowers since the days of the three musketeers, their parcel of Charmes is a relatively recent acquisition, brought to an uncompromising standard of excellence within the life of a generation.

Dry River are a first growth of Martinborough. One of the region's earliest believers. The crescent shaped appellation lies along the edge of a river terrace formed by the Ruamahunga and Huangarua Rivers. An artisanal accord of Tempranillo and Pinot Noir, Viognier and Shiraz. All the varietals are in balance though the tannin profile might give it away. Delicate acidity to underline the fruit, a story of exquisite balance and harmony and elocution, a mineral thread entwines with the faintest hint of dried herb, the finish is long with the freshness of lingering flavours.

The great virtues of Martinborough are the lowest rainfall anywhere on the North Island and a heat summation that's idyllic for Pinot Noir. Seasonal rains are limited to a tiny locality, five kilometres in radius. At the heart of these unique mesoclimes lies an auspicious terroir of wonderfully free draining gravels, the home of Dry River Pinot Noir. Its full and round palate over elegant, velvety textured tannins, defined by delicacy rather than power. The finished wine is aged for a year in a selection of seasoned and new French oak puncheons.

Dawn and Neil McCallum had been looking for a quality site since 1979, it became clear that Martinborough was the place. Beginning in 1986, the wines of Martinborough were given a seal of origin. Authentification is administered through Martinborough Terrace Appellation of Origin System. A mere 600 plantable hectares in size, the special soils are comprised almost completely of free draining gravels with the same meagre rainfall, aspects and temperatures, unique and homogenous from a viticultural point of view.

A decidedly regional Pinot Noir, Drift are all about capturing the natural endowments of Marlborough and bringing the goodness of it all to the world. Minimal intervention is a priority, to ensure that the wines clearly expresses the uniqueness of the land. Drift take a decidely eclectic approach to constructing a wine that expresses the totality of all good things Marlborough. The palate is animate with ripe red cherry and raspberry flavours, perfumed by spice notes, supported by gentle tannins and juicy acidity, wrapped in a veil of supply seasoned oak.

The most highly coke addled marketing executive couldn't have come up with a brand like Dowie Doole, but fast forward and the label now enjoys a growing reputation for profound Shiraz wines in Australia and overseas. Small crops of extraordinary quality fruit are grown to some enduring Mclaren Vale vines, to be fermented and matured at the Boar's Rock wineworks.

Unmistakably McLaren Vale, a Shiraz of exceptional colour and profound structure, freshness and barrel ferment richness, intensity of flavour and beautifully bright currant acidity. Dowie Doole are viticulturalists with a deep love of the land, partisans of good fruit from healthy vines which are part of a balanced, bio diverse environment. Harvests of physiologically ripe grapes are essential, the luxury of extended maturation in a high proportion of new oak augments the fruit and beatifies the tannins.

There really is a Dowie Doole, architect/grower Drew Dowie and international banker/grower Norm Doole. Their dedicated team have struck a purple patch with Merlot, fortifying the pick of their crop with a tenth of Cabernet Sauvignon for structure, aromaticness and length. At Dowie Doole, quality drives everything. Viticulturally, the ultimate expression of quality is in delivering harvests of the most exceptional fruit to make great wines. The requisite McLaren Merlot style of early accessibility and soft lingering flavours, gracious tannins and supportive oak.

Heathcote produces the most distinctive Shiraz wines, lined by noble tannins and carrying a serious weight of fruit. The rich terra rosa soils and favourably sunny climes make the region so exciting for protagonists of world class Shiraz, that it beckoned Dominique Portet to impart continental flair and skill into parcels of the choicest local fruit. A solidly structured wine, instantly recognizable as Heathcote, endowed with showroom tannins and an intensity of bramble flavours, luxuriously refined oak and minarets of peppery, aromatic spice.

From harvests of estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, assembled off the salubrious Dominique Portet vineyards. The temperate seasons of Yarra Valley allow for complete ripening of fruit, components grown to climes further afield at Heathcote or the Pyreness encourage the development of fragrant pepper spice and the most graceful tannins. The lucky grapes are all hand picked, destemmed and very gently crushed, to be fashioned into a sublimely integrated accord, showing suppleness on the palate after an engaging nose of delicate perfumes.

The winemaking at Dominique Portet has one foot planted firmly in tradition and the other in the latest developments. It is ultimately an empathy for the grape and respect for the shared experiences of winemaking pioneers which drive the Portet wineworks, nestled amongst the flourishing vineyards of Victoria. It is from these propitious sites on the benign aspects of Yarra Valley, that Dominique Portet identifies auspicious parcels, so akin to the peerless quality of harvest that he husbanded during his childhood amongst the vines of Château Lafite.

André was Dominique Portet’s father, role model and mentor. The eigth generation in a distinguished lineage of vigneron, André raised Dominique amongst the world's most sacred vines during his tenure as manager at the illustrious Château Lafite-Rothschild. An assemblage of parcels Cabernet Sauvignon, hand picked and hand sorted from elite blocks in the Pyrenees and Yarra Valley, Andre can only ever be made from the most exceptional vintages.

Domaine Montirius is based near Sarrians to the northeast of Chateauneuf du Pape, in the prestigious appellations of Vacqueyras and Gigondas. Domaine Montirius make wines that are rounder and more voluptuous than their neighbouring estates. No wood is employed in the maturation, which preserves tremendous purity of fruit, expressing fully the concentration that comes from a high percentage of very old vines. Domaine Montirius Vacqueyras is a wonderfully vivacious, fuit driven wine of captivating depth and exceptional style.

Victoria makes world class Pinot Noir, Chandon have the resources to develop the best vineyards and to retain the finest sites. Fruit is predominantly sourced from two vineyards in the Upper Yarra, planted to altitudes of 250 metres, they yield a quality of Pinot Noir that's highly akin to her stately siblings in the old world. The task of the Chandon team is to preserve the eccentricity of Pinot Noir in an engaging and balanced wine, suitably endowed with generous fruit filled palate, laden with bucolic varietal charm, truffles and barnyard, cherry and rhubarb spice.

Shiraz from the Chandon Colbinabbin Vineyard at Heathcote, an auspicious confluence of terroir and clime unlike any other in the world. Deep ferrous soils punish the vines into digging deep for their moisture, infusing grapes with the most ardent, stately tannins. The peaks of Mount Carmel Range further serve to conduct chilling southerlies along fortuitous longitudes, very like the Mistral winds of Vallee du Rhone. Easterly aspects moderate afternoon heat, so essential for an idyllic ripening of Shiraz grapes with extraordinary concentration of flavour.

Nigel Dolan of Saltram and Pepperjack fame established his own estate with a clear vision to produce distinctive, flagship Barossa wines. His forebears Arthur and Thomas Dolan planted the family's original 88 acres of vine in 1895. Nigel's father Bryan worked at Hardy, Saltram and Stonyfell, where he appointed a young Peter Lehmann as his replacement. Bryan is best known for establishing the Pepperjack label and winning the inaugural Jimmy Watson Trophy. Nigel is a Baron of the Barossa, has won the Jimmy Watson twice and Stodart Trophy three times.

Heel! Sit! Sometimes simple commands are the answer, nothing too technical, no putting on airs and graces, no fuss. Just right for pups who enjoy a lively wine. Pups like this are unrestrained yet house trained, full of the simple pleasures. A joy to all and yet showing pedigree and character nurtured with expert care. A sniff and a lick will tell you there's fun to be had with this smooth Cabernet Merlot. Fetch! Grown and trained by a family infatuated by McLaren Vale, fine wines and curly coated retrievers. A silky smooth, more-ish modern Aussie red.

From plantings dating back to the late 1970s, older well established vines on free draining silty clay loams, yielding fully ripe Pinot Noir grapes with concentrated characters and exemplary varietal expressions. The superlative sites are managed by viticulturist Ivan Sutherland, the fruit is vinified into a robust Burgundian styling by James Healy, both contributed to the genesis at neighbouring Cloudy Bay. An ambitious collation of Dijon clones 777, 667 and 115, Pommard clone 5, Abel and 10/5 from the illustrious Dog Point Vineyard.

A consistently splendid Pinot Noir from a family operated Yarra Valley winery which continues to chalk up the most coveted accolades and awards. The staple Pinot on winelists aound Victoria's better restaurants for decades, a superb effort even by the estate's own exacting standards, it exhibits what pinotphiles refer to as the proverbial iron fist in velvet glove. Silken in texture, in bucolic Burgundian styling, a wonderfully food oriented red that mates so well with everything from gorgonzola to game sausage. Complex and exciting, it evolves in the glass.

From one of Yarra Valley's most scenic sites, parcels of intensely favoured Cabernet Sauvignon, picked off fully mature vines, are vinified alongside a harvest of succulent Yarra Valley Merlot. Diamond Valley know from the luscious Bordeaux styles, having shown well at the Melbourne Federation Square Peoples Choice awards. A seamless accord of Cabernet and Merlot, endowed with genteel tannins and splendid length, from a tiny winery that puts quality before quantity.

Devil's Lair are auspiciously positioned at the heart of Leeuwin Peninsula, within the dress circle of Margaret River's most eminent wineries and prestigious vineyards. The climes here are very like the balmy maritime conditions of Bordeaux, red varietal grapes are intensely flavoured and lined by the finest tannins. There is a folklore of hidden caves and devilish marsupials which sets the background to Devil's Lair cryptic range of wines. A mostly Cabernet accord with a third of Shiraz, Hidden Cave is seamless and redolent, in opulent Margaret River claret styling.

Why the fifth leg? Recognised as one of Margaret River's leading estates, Devil's Lair is situated on the southern end of Leeuwin Peninsula, it produces some of the most meritorious wines in the Australian west. Devil's Lair know about stylish reds and have brought their smart vinification techniques to bear on the enduring Aussie blend. This funky ensemble of vibrant Cabernet, playing alongside the plummy beat of Merlot and rhythmic rumba of spiced Shiraz, will make your taste buds dance and groove and have some real fun.