Now widely recognized as consistently one of Australia's very best dessert wines, in a land full of great stickies, Noble One is close in formula to Sauternes, botrytis affected sémillon aged in barrel. But it is still far better value than Sauternes, or icewine. I tasted this vintage at meal's end during an Aussie dinner in Toronto late last year, the bottles purchased in Alberta. Although I did not take detailed notes, the wine was perfectly sound, complex and delicious with deep gold colour and exotic tropical fruit and spice. Go for it. Will age a decade or more, but drink anytime.

One of Australia's legendary dessert wines. A barrel aged botrytis affected sémillon (Sauternes style) with deep orange colour and intense apricot, honey, tea and mint flavours.Very very thick with and sweet, with surprising acidity and an almost salty, mineral finish. Very powerful; excellent length. For cheeses after dinner.

Made from Shiraz and Grenache grown in McLaren Vale, aged average of 8 years in small oak casks. Medium amber, touch of red. Very spicy, tea, leather, rancio nut aromas. Rich, intense, sweeter style but very well balanced. Spicy, tea, raisiny, rancio flavours. It has more fruit character on the palate than nose.

A blend of fortified shiraz, grenache and mataro from Barossa Valley. Each is aged individually in small oak casks before it is blended into the solera system that was established in 1973 (using wines that date back to 1940!). They laid down the best port in 1878 and have continued the tradition ever since. The solera contains 50,000 barrels that are on average 7 to 12 years old. Great nutty, marzipan flavours with mocha/chocolate too.

Cherry brick color. Spicy pepper, sweaty, Soya and marmite nose. Made entirely from Shiraz grapes grown in McLaren Vale. Surprisingly, it was bottled in November 1983, meaning almost no time in wood. Spirity, hot alcoholic flavours of tea, jam, leather and marmite. Beet in the mouth than on the nose. Good acidity and balance and still some tannin. A curiosity.

Made from 100% botrytised sémillon. Intense nose of citrus, dried apricot, tobacco, floral and peach aromas. Very rich and intense, has very high sugar but great acidity. Long dried apricot, citrus, apple, botrytis egg yolk flavours. Very long, like a Sauternes ice wine almost. Spends two years in oak.