Hoddles Creek Estate was established in 1997 when the D'Anna family decided to establish a vineyard on the property that has been in the family since 1960. The vineyard sits astride Gembrook road and adjacent Hoddles Creek. Its steeply sloping blocks prohibit mechanical harvesting, with both vineyards being hand pruned and harvested. 

It smells of pears and oyster shells; it tastes of nectarines, grapefruit, cedar-spice and mineral; it finishes with such an emphatic burst of fruit that its quality feels instantly upgraded. How or why this wine is only $26 I do not know. This release will need a bit of time in the bottle to really blossom but the power, structure, length and indeed X-factor place it in rare air once again. Date: May 2026; Alcohol: 13.2%; Price: $26; Closure: Screwcap; Drink: 2028-2035+; Rating: 94 Points; Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front

Picked in two phases in this warm year, an earlier pick for acidity and a later one for flavour and texture. Aromas of stone fruit, yellow apple and just a hint of vanillin. The palate is moreish, finishing lemon-pithy and long. Drink now and over the next 2–3 years. Date: Aug 2026; Alcohol: 13.2%; Price: $26.00; Drink by: 2029; Rating: 94 Points & Special Value Star; James Halliday Wine Companion