Keo VSOP 12 year old Brandy – around $30. From Cyprus. Higher in alcohol (40%) and bigger in bottle (750ml) than most entry level brandies around. Tea-hued, warm sweetish nose, faint oak. Generously flavoured, nice aged spirity characters with maybe raisin like fruit and integrated barrel notes. Most enjoyable.

Pommery Brut Royale NV – around $70. Reims, France. Light straw, small to medium bead. Inviting Apple Danish nose. Light dry and refreshing mouthfeel. Elegant on the palate with biscuity undertones from yeast lees – lemon zesty acidity. Delicious.

Moondah Brook Verdelho 2005 – expect to pay around $11 to $16. Western Australia. Pale lemon hued. Upfront nose of tropical fruits. Juicy grapiness in the mouth leads to pleasing off-dry finish.

White Island Semillon – Sauvignon Blanc 2004 – around $17. Gisborne semillon, Marlborough sauvignon blanc, New Zealand. Faded gold. Nose of dried pears and lychees. Fairly soft, easy-drinking style in the mouth with more pear-like aspects and mild acid to finish.

Murdoch Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2005 – around $16. Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Green-edged, pale. Highly aromatic, with passionfruit dominating the nose. Abundant fruit sweetness is well-balanced finishing with lime-like acidity.

Moss Wood Chardonnay 2004 – up to $60. Margaret River, Western Australia. Lemon to gold hued. Ripe apricots, toasted oak and citrus on the nose. Rich and velvety mouthfeel showing stone fruits and butterscotch and great persistence in the finish.

Water Wheel Memsie Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2004 – around $12. Bendigo, Victoria. Dark red. Plummy, ripe, dusty oak, berry nose. Youthful, full-fruited style enhanced with plenty of blackberry and mild tannins.

Port Phillip Estate Pinot Noir 2003 – up to $35. Mornington Peninsula,Victoria. Mid red. Maraschino cherries, raspberries, subdued smoky oak nose. Light mouthfeel with unaggressive but lasting tannins. Strawberry like flavours dominate and the somewhat forward acidity will suit light main courses.

Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2001 – up to $29. Medium ruby. Redcurrants, savoury, leathery, spicy nose. This wine is all about structure: firm chewy tannins, excellent acidity, nicely judged fruit ripeness and secondary vinosity lead to a long lip-smacking aftertaste. Demands full-on main course tucker as an accompaniment. A wine for a fine long lunch. Cellar to 2007.

Majella Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 – around $30. Garnet with a hint of purple. Lifted blackcurrants, chocolate and dusty pencil shavings nose. Classy, premium Australian style. While really too young to drink this wine shows the all-round skills of a winemaker who has taken optimally ripened grapes and has skilfully balanced fruit, weight, acid, oak and tannin into a potential classic. Should drink well to at least 2012.