Moss Wood 2021 Amy's red blend

This is not the most expensive wine in the excellent Moss Wood range, nor is it the highest profile, But it is certainly one of the best value: a medium-bodied Bordeaux blend from Margaret River with impeccable balance and dangerous drinkability. The blend is 68% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 7% malbec and 5% petit verdot - so very Left Bank influenced. Plenty of colour, oodles of flavour with older French oak contributing complexity without any obvious influence on the ripe, dark fruit characters. Silky, soft and seductive and ready for immediate enjoyment. We enjoyed this with croquettes made from leftover turkey, but it would pair well with just about any red or white meat dish. $42. www.mosswood.com.au/

Amigo de la Tierra 2021 Garnacha Tempranillo

 

This might just be the best-value red wine import in Australia right now. It is a vibrant young and food-friendly blend of garnacha (grenache) and tempranillo from Spain that would work a treat as companion to just about any grilled red meat dishes, or perhaps some stuffed mushrooms. Made organically and bottled under screwcap, this is lip-smackingly good with a great balance between fruit and savoury characters. Unoaked, I suspect, and soft and juicy. A perfect choice for a holiday barbecue. Distributed by Single Vineyard Sellers and ridiculously undervalued with an RRP of $20. Vegan friendly, too. https://www.singlevineyards.com/ 

De Bortoli 2022 Ti Amo Fiano

 

Here is a fun new release from De Bortoli that is perfect for enjoying well chilled on a summer day, perhaps with a bucket of prawns and mayo, or maybe some pan-fried whitebait. Seriously bright and vibrant, crisp and dry with zingy acid on the palate, it is made from a southern Italian grape variety grown in Rutherglen and the King Valley of north-east Victoria. You'll find citrus and fresh stone fruit vibrancy along with hints of lively minerality that encourage quaffing a second glass, and maybe a third. Freshness in a glass, and vegan-friendly, too. Good value with an RRP of $19.95. www.debortoli.com.au/

Angullong 2021 Fossil Hill Sangiovese

Take an Australian family winery, a classic Italian grape variety and a Canadian-born winemaker and you have a winning combination. Angullong is a family owned operation outside Orange in the Central West of New South Wales, located about 350km west of Sydney. The Crossing family has planted a range of Italian grape varieties, including sangiovese, which is the grape used in Tuscany's renowned Chiantis. Winemaker Jeff Byrne has crafted a delightful medium-bodied red here, with an appealing balance between blue fruit flavours and savoury/herbal/deli notes. There's a lovely softeness on the finish and this would pair brilliantly with most pasta and pizza dishes. $30. www.angullong.com.au/

Bremerton 2020 Selkirk Shiraz

 

Wine drinkers need a few bottles of this tucked away over summer. Not only does this Langhorne Creek shiraz offer a whole lot of bang for your buck, but its medium-bodied versatility means it is an excellent companion to everything from a barbecue, a snag sandwich or a steak and chips. A lovely, easy drinking style from winemaker Rebecca Willson with some restrained plummy fruit characters, hints of white pepper and a soft, supple palate with just a hint of oak adding to the package. Perfect for midweek drinking pleasure on a budget. For those wondering, Selkirk in Scotland is the ancestral home of the Willson family. $20. https://www.bremerton.com.au/ 

Running with Bulls 2022 Albariño

So you enjoy your white wines youthful with fresh, tangy vibrancy? You are willing to try a non-mainstream grape variety but don't have a whole lot of cash to splash. Let me introduce you to the new-release Running With Bulls 2022 Albariño - an Australian take on a classic Spanish grape variety that is full of floral aromas and youthful exuberance. Winemaker Sam Wigan had the fruit picked in the cool of the night for maximum vibrancy, and this has lashings of green apple and lemon sorbet fruit flavours and some impressive zingy acid on the finish. No oak, just natural fermentation and some time on lees to build palate interest. Pair with salt and pepper squid, or Asian dishes with a hint of spice. It's vegan friendly, too. $31. www.runningwithbulls.com.au   

Tscharke 2021 A Thing of Beauty Grenache

 

If you enjoy your reds young and vibrant then this will be right up your alley. The striking label is matched by the very striking wine; grown and made organically and biodynamically in the Barossa Valley and made in what winemaker Damien Tscharke says is "one of the best vintages in the recent decade". Grenache blocks were hand-picked at different times to create layers and complexity right from the vineyard . After malo, the fruit was transferred to terracotta amphorae with regular batonage. Think floral aromas and lovely fruit with savoury hints. Plenty of spice, plenty of length, lots of youthful vigour. Ridiculously good value at $28. https://tscharke.au/
 

Grosset 2021 Piccadilly Chardonnay

 

Jeffrey Grosset is the high priest of Clare Valley riesling, producing a stunning range of styles from various sites, using organics, biodynamics that make excellence routine. What is less well known is that Grosset ventures outside the Clare for some other wines in his range, including this outstanding Adelaide Hills chardonnay with precision and poise. There are stone fruit and citrus in perfect harmony, hints of cashew nut and subtle oak on a palate that lingers impressively. Only 700 cases were made with fermentation in French oak barrqiues (40% new) and partial malo for texture. Studious but bright and a perfect partner for roast pork. 96/1000 from me. $77. https://www.grosset.com.au/

Gundog Estate 2021 Hilltops No.1 Shiraz

So you like your shiraz with plenty of meat on its bones, but not an ounce of flab. This is the bigger, more assertive, of two impressive shirazes from the cool Hilltops region outside Young in regional New South Wales. The fruit for this one is sourced from Brian Freeman's immaculately tended vineyards at Prunevale, and Gundog winemaker Matt Burton has delivered plenty of drive, but also some bright acidity and poise. It paired very well with a Tomahawk steak and horse radish. The No.2 is a more elegant style, more those looking for a little less power and more precision. Both offer good drinking at $35. www.gundogestate.com.au 

Moondarra 2017 Conception Pinot Noir

Moondarra maestro Neil Prentice is not short of courage. He brought his Gippsland wines to Hobart in Tasmania - the hottest pinot noir region in the country right now - and showed them against some of the best of Apple Isle at the Mould+Pinot Palooza event. Good news for Prentice: they more than held their own. This is a very pretty, medium-bodied pinot that shows cherry and strawberry characters after the fruit (one-third whole bunch) is hand-picked and processed on site. This is wild fermented, undegoes pigeage (foot stomping), and is then aged in Troncais oak. The Moondarra team recommend pairing it with peking duck, but is also goes very well with blue cheese. Versatile then. Funky with some bitey minerality, but also silky on the finish. Unfined, unfiltered and just a little bit French accented. It is also “accidentally vegan”. $50. www.moondarra.com.au/

Cullen 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

 

Cullen's flagship Diana Madeline Bordeaux blend now costs $150 a bottle - if you are able to lay your hands on any. This wine is known as the "junior Diana Madeline" and costs considerably less. The cabernet grapes come from the ‘old block’ - planted over 50 years ago in 1971. This is a seriously delicious blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot that can be enjoyed immediately, while its sibling benefits from a stint in the cellar. Biodynamically grown and made, this spent seven months in 30% new French oak barrels and offers classic dark currant and chocolate flavours along with impressive tannin structure. Pair with roast lamb. We did, and were well rewarded. $45. www.cullenwines.com.au/

Domaine de la Combe 2019 Reserve Personelle Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie

 

My experience has always been that Muscadets, the thrilling white wines of the western Loire region outside Nantes in the far west of France, are best enjoyed in their youth. At three years of age this reserve release  from Domaine de la Combe comprehensively disproves that theory. The wines from this domaine are wild fermented in stainless steel with minimal preservatives added. No malo. In addition to the a lively salinity and green apple and mineral characters, there is also bright acid and some interesting layers of texture from a year spent maturing on lees and a further year in bottle before release. Imported by Red + White and best enjoyed with crustaceans at La Cigale in Nantes. In Australia, maybe pair with fresh oysters or a Moreton Bay bug or two. $35. www.domaine-combe.com/

Amon-Ra by Ben Glazeter 2020 Shiraz

 

A seriously swashbuckling Barossa shiraz from Ben Glaetzer, a member of one of the Barossa's foremost winemaking families. It is a full-flavored red that pulls off the difficult trick of being both macho and sensitive, with an astutely judged balance of power and poise on the palate. Amon-Ra is considered to be the king of all Egyptian gods and is the Glaetzer flagship. The fruit is from 50-130-year-old vines in Ebenezer and this represents a high-quality vintage in which production was low. A serious wine with a cheeky wink, with plum and dark berry flavours to the fore, this deserves to be enjoyed at a dinner party, or with very close friends. Glaetzer says it will cellar for well over 20 years. For those on a tighter budget, little brother Bishop by Glaetzer offers distinguished drinking for a third of the price. $100. https://glaetzer.com/

Tahbilk 2022 Pinot Gris

There are a lot of Australian wineries making "Alsace-style" pinot gris, but very few hit the target like this new release from Tahbilk in Victoria. This is floral and fruit-driven with spicy pear and musky notes to the fore, and is extremely food friendly, as well as offering terrific value. There is a bright, minerally acidity to the finish that means it will pair well with French to Vietnamese cuisine - and anything in between. The fruit was picked late for maximum flavour impact but still has some judicious restraint. Lovely stuff. Drink now. $20. https://tahbilk.com.au/ 

Chateau les Maurins 2020 Bordeaux

 

This is another bargain buy from Aldi supermarkets; a a very quaffable medium-bodied Bordeaux for under a tenner. This is a classic blend of 60% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc from the Entre-Deux-Mers appellation. There are some dark blackberry and blackcurrant fruit notes here but also some attractive savoury/leafy hints. The finish is soft and smooth and it paired brilliantly with a roast lamb en croute. Remarkable value. $9.99.

Clandestine Vineyards Break Free 2022 Bliss Bomb

 

Pét Nat is not usually my preferred style of wine, but this one - and its still sibling Petit Blancs - took my fancy, and also found favour with my tasting group. Break Free "natural" wines are the brainchild of Trudy Rowles Stacy, part of the Clandestine Vineyards team, and were born from a desire to showcase grapes vinified with zero intervention. This is produced using the méthode ancestral, meaning it was bottled prior to fully completing its first fermentation and is unfined and unfiltered. This nifty little cloudy number is made from 100% Swan Valley chenin blanc. It is a cheeky wine, with just 10.5% alcohol, plenty of zingy, fruity and spicy vibrancy, along with high refreshment value. Serve with a cheese platter. $32. https://clandestinevineyards.com.au/break-free-vin-nat/

Oliver's Taranga 2022 Chica Mencia Rosé

 

It has only taken a handful of vintages for this to become one of Australia's most reliable high-quality dry rosé styles. Made from the Spanish grape mencia, grown in Galicia and sometimes known as jaen, this is a quintessential summer lunch wine that is full of youthful vibrancy and refreshment and would pair brilliantly with charcuterie and hard cheese. It is made by Corrina Wright, a sixth-generation member of the Oliver family in McLaren Vale, who also produce a dry red made from the same grape. $27. www.oliverstaranga.com

Peter Lehmann 2022 Portrait Sauvignon Blanc

 

With warmer days around the corner, just about every wine drinker needs a couple of bottles of a wine like this for when friends drop around, or for emergency thirsts. Peter Lehmann is long gone, his winery is in new hands and the fruit for this wine is not even sourced from Lehmann's beloved Barossa. But...this is made from cooler Adelaide Hills fruit and offers some excellent refreshment with its vibrant, tangy tropical fruit flavours and fresh acid. Perfect for enjoying well chilled on the deck after work, or with some takeaway fish and chips. No oak, no lees contact, just freshness pure fruit characters. There is also a pinot grigio in the range that is pretty decent. $20. www.peterlehmannwines.com/

Grosset 2022 Polish Hill Riesling

This is consistently Australia's finest dry riesling; organic, biodynamic and made in a style that is constantly evolving. From a single vineyards site in the Clare Valley - Australia's riesling heartland - this is tremendously vibrant and spectacular drinking even in its infancy. It has an intensity on the nose that leads to a core of citrus, steeliness and enticing minerality. Powerful, yet beautifully balanced, this is a world-class wine from a maker who never sets on his laurels. Tight, taut and terrific like a vinous ballet dancer, it skips across the palate. Jeff Grosset says you can cellar it for 20 years of more - if you have the self control. It also vegan friendly. Released September 1. Be quick or miss out. $75. www.grosset.com.au/

Hay Shed Hill 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

 

Summer in a glass from the team at Hay Shed Hill in Western Australia, whose wines offer reliably good value across the board. This is a classic Margaret River white blend of 58% sauvignon blanc and 42% semillon that offers freshness and vibrancy with floral aromas and brisk, crisp tropical fruit and citrus flavours and a bright acid finish. It would be delightful with fish dishes, spicy Asian plates or simply as an after-work pick me up. Serve well chilled, drink while young and lively - and maybe buy a dozen to see you through the warmer months. $22. https://hayshedhill.com.au/

El Valiente 2020 Organic Tempranillo

 

It is a mystery to me why Australians do not drink more wines from Spain and Portugal, given they offer terrific value and are very compatible with Australian cuisine. This organic tempranillo (the main grape in the red wines of Rioja) is part of the Elefante range imported by Fourth Wave Wines and has some medium-bodied fruit with a dry finish. It combines brightness and savoury notes. The bullfighting theme might not be to everyone's taste, but the $15 price tag is a definite winner and the wine can be found for even less on special. Pair with a chorizo dish for maximum pleasure.     

Taylors 2021 Estate Chardonnay

 

Many wine lovers have a “midweek” favourite for which they pay around $20 a bottle – and then splurge out on the weekend. This is a perfect midweek drinking choice, an impressive chardonnay from the Taylor family in the Clare Valley, whose wines are something of a byword for value. Winemaker Adam Eggins has blended grapes from Padthaway with fruit from the Clare Valley to produce a very food-friendly, fruit-driven chardonnay with classic peach and citrus notes that would pair with anything from quiche to roast pork. $22. https://www.taylorswines.com.au/

Bremerton Molly and Merle 2022 Verdelho

 

It is a bit of a mystery why the Portuguese grape variety verdelho is not more popular in Australia. It is a lively, fresh variety that can be enjoyed young and goes well with spicy Thai and Vietnamese dishes. This tastes like a liquid fruit salad with bright, natural fruit sweetness and vibrant acidity. Mollie and Merle are the grandmothers of Bremerton creators Rebecca and Lucy Willson and this Langhorne Creek offering is terrific value at $18. www.bremerton.com

Port Philip Estate 2021 Red Hill Pinot Noir

 

It does not pay to be colourist when it comes to pinot noir. This is a pale but flavoursome wine crafted from fruit grown on five estate blocks at Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula, the oldest of which were plated 35 years ago. The fruit was fermented in a combination of large-format wooden foudres and stainless-steel tanks and the end result weighs in at just 13% ABV. It is an aromatic and pretty wine with red fruits to the fore, but has plenty of depth and would pair brilliantly with roast duck and cherry sauce. A delightful young wine that will also cellar well. $40. www.portphillipestate.com.au/

Longview 2020 Vista Shiraz Barbera

 

Take Australia's most popular red wine grape and blend it with an Italian variety. The end result is a quite delightful midweek drink; a blend of Adelaide Hills shiraz and barbera that is thoroughly modern in its appeal - and terrific value, too. Think a spicy, savoury and crunchy vibrant young red wine that is ready for immediate enjoyment and ideal for quaffing with a barbecue or a burger. $23. www.longviewvineyard.com.au/

Tyrrell's 2021 HVD Chardonnay

I tasted this new release from venerable family-owned Hunter Valley wine producer Tyrrell's alongside several other Hunter chardonnays over lunch - and this blew them all the others out of the water. The Old Vines Chardonnay block on the HVD (Hunter Valley Distillery) vineyard was planted in 1908 and is among the oldest in the world. This possesses a real style and swagger, with purity and intensity alongside true varietal character. Tight, crunchy and pristine. A superb example of Australian chardonnay. $80. https://tyrrells.com.au/

The Old Vines Chardonnay block on HVD was planted in 1908 and is believed to be the oldest producing Chardonnay vineyard in the world. 

Margan 2019 Ceres Hill Barbera

Barbera is a red grape variety that originates from the north-west of Italy and the Margan family were ahead of curve when they were the first to plant Barbera in the Hunter Valley, almost a quarter of a century ago. The small vineyard is located behind the winery on volcanic clay. Andrew Margan says the 2019 vintage had perfect ripening conditions with dry, warm days resulting in beautifully ripe fruit. This is long, soft and slightly spicy; a really lovely wine that is varietally savoury and extremely food friendly. We paired it with calves liver and onions - a delicious combo. $40. www.margan.com.au.

Grosset 2020 Picadilly Chardonnay

 

Jeff Grosset is best known for his superb Clare Valley rieslings, widely recognised as being among the finest in Australia. But Grosset also turns his eye to the Piccadilly Valley in the cooler Adelaide Hills, where he produces this stunningly sensuous chardonnay. Only 6000 bottles of this zesty and vibrant wine were made with classic stone fruit characters allied to nutty nuances and a palate that is longer than an Aussie summer. There is a lot happening here; myriad flavours and textures coming together as one. Drink now, or cellar medium term. $72. https://www.grosset.com.au/

Tapanappa 2021 Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir

The Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia is not best known for pinot noir but this one from a specific site, notably cool and foggy at 350 metres, is a glorious exception. From veteran winemaker Brian Croser (ex Petaluma) and his team, this is a wine of distinction that pays tribute to its terroir. The wine is light purple in colour with restrained alcohol and red berry fruit characters to the fore. Very vibrant with impressive structure and some definite feminity allied to strength. A ballerina of a wine that can either be enjoyed right now with roast duck, or cellared medium term. Delightful. $55. https://tapanappa.com.au/     

Tahbilk 2021 Viognier

This has to be one of Australia's best wine bargains; a terrific fruit-driven viognier for under $20. Venerable Victorian producer Tahbilk is probably better known for its success with other white Rhone varietals marsanne and roussanne, but viognier shone in 2021, showing it can stand on its own merits rather being used for blending. This is both floral and spicy with ripe pear and peach notes on the palate, which has some very lively acidity. A wine for enjoying young and fresh, perhaps with a Mediterranean vegetable tart. $20. www.tahbilk.com.au/

Cullen 2019 Vanya Full Moon Cabernet Sauvignon

Here is something a bit special that you'll need to move swiftly to acquire, as only 768 bottles were made. Crafted from vines planted in 1971, this is winemaker Vanya Cullen's pride and joy: a cabernet of remarkable purity and energy that underlines the benefits of biodynamic and organic agriculture and minimal additions. Made from 100% cabernet sauvignon that was harvested "under the full Moon on a fruit day" that has wonderful balance and poise. Every sip offers a different nuance of flavours including chocolate and Asian spices. Minerally, with dark fruits, impeccable balance and a panoply of subtle flavour notes, it finishes plush and full. 96/100 from me. On tasting at the Cullen cellar door in Margaret River later this week. Priced for a special occasion. $650. https://www.cullenwines.com.au

Xanadu 2020 Reserve Chardonnay

 

Margaret River's Xanadu winery is renowned for its consistent excellence and this new-release reserve chardonnay is right on target. This is 10th consecutive release of the reserve chardonnay with 100% of the fruit from the Lagan estate vineyard. Medium-bodied, textural, minerally and barrel fermented but with a definite feminine side, this has a classic amalgam of citrus and white stone fruit flavours, with restrained quality oak and some sea spray on the rocks character lurking in the background. Drink now, or cellar for a few years. Pair with maybe roast spatchcock or other poultry dishes. $110 but seriously delicious and 97/100 from me. https://xanaduwines.com/ 

Payne's Rise 2019 Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon

 

If you enjoy your cabernet on the leaner, cool-climate elegance side of the red wine spectrum then this nifty tribute to Bordeaux will be right up your alley. There is nothing wine reviewers like less than being nudged about why a wine has not been reviewed, but this little gem truly had slipped through the cracks. This was released to mark 20 years of Upper Yarra Valley winery Payne's Rise, and is notable for its style and structure, although ideally it should be cellared for a few more years. Think restrained dark berry, slight herbal and minty characters. A lovely drink now or later. $55. www.paynesrise.com.au/

Petaluma 2019 Yellow Label Coonawarra Merlot

Seriously good merlot is not always easy to find in Australia, but this one shines. Petaluma makes wines across the Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley and Coonawarra, and this underlines how impressively shiny merlot can be when handled well. The talented Teresa Heuzenroeder recently took over as winemaker, but this was crafted by Mike Mudge. This smooth operator can either be enjoyed in its youth, or cellared medium term. It is savoury with impressive structure from maturation in larger format French oak. but has delightful immediate approachability, Pair with a steak and kidney casserole. $68. https://www.petaluma.com.au/

Thorne Clark Varietal Collection 2020 Grenache

The Varietal Collection is a new range of well-priced individual varietal wines from reliable Barossa producer Thorne Clarke, which boasts six generations of viticultural history. This is a lovely medium-bodied wine that proved a major hit with my tasting group and was an admirable foil for a cheese platter. There are juicy strawberry and red cherry fruit characters, along with earthy and savoury notes. Nicely balanced, even at 14.5% alcohol, this would pair with a wide range of red and white meat dishes. It is unfined, unfiltered and very Australian with its robust charm. $30. https://www.thornclarkewines.com.au/ 

Trentham Estate 2021 The Family Pinot Grigio

What a joy this wine is: and the price point certainly makes it one to look out for; you won't find much better value for everyday drinking pleasure. This is a dry, fruity white wine, very much in the lively grigio style, that offers citrus, green apple and nashi pear fruit notes, serious vibrancy and plenty of length on the palate. The Murphy family from Trentham Estate in the Murray-Darling say it is "an ideal wine to enjoy chilled on a hot day". You do need to give this a good chill and then pair it with anything from fish and chips or sushi to Portuguese roast chicken. A ripper for $15. https://trenthamestate.com.au/

Majella 2020 The Musician

"When it comes to affordable reds for everyday drinking, it's hard to go past this delicious blend." Those are words I wrote almost a decade ago, but they remain equally accurate today. This Coonawarra blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz still retails for under $20 and remains a reliable "go to" for serious value. Dark fruit, minty hints and a smidgen of spice make this the perfect choice to accompany a midweek dinner or a weekend barbecue. Soft, supple, easy to drink. And the price appears to have remained static for a number of years. $19. www.majellawines.com.au/

Ashton Hills 2021 Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir

 

With a pedigree dating back over four decades, Ashton Hills has a well deserved reputation for its cool-climate Adelaide Hills pinots noir -and a change of regime has not diminished quality, The fruit for this appealing young wine was taken from six different blocks in the cool Piccadilly Valley and is just lovely. Think juicy, red-fruited goodness with some softness and style on the finish. I'd pair this with Chinese roast duck - a classic combo for excellent dining. $40. www.ashtonhills.com.au/ 

Chapel Hill 2021 The Parson Shiraz

 

Everyone needs a few bottles of a cheeky young red like this in their wine cellar (or cupboard) for when friends pop by for a barbecue or a burger. Winemaking team Michael Fragos and Bryn Richards have a habit over over-delivering - particularly with the The Parson range; entry level wines with plenty of heart and soul. Think McLaren Vale mulberry/blueberry/plummy fruit flavours, hints of spice and good length. This is an impressive successor to the trophy-winning 2020 vintage. You'll sometimes find these wines for under the very reasonable recommended price of $18. www.chapelhillwine.com.au/  

Stefano Lubiana 2020 Riesling

 

Rieslings from Tasmania are criminally under-rated, perhaps because many are a tad high in acidity when they are first released. This has been given time to settle and has lovely crispness and varietal flavours without the stinging acidity. It is a terrific bargain given it ticks so many hipster boxes being biodynamic, organic and vegan-friendly. Made from grapes grown overlooking the Derwent Valley north of Hobart, it is vibrant, minerally, citrusy and very refreshing. My bottle simply evaporated. Pair with oysters, pan-fried flathead or even a Thai stir-fry. $33. www.slw.com.au

Taylors estate label 2021 Sauvignon Blanc

 

Sauvignon blanc is not as trendy as it once was, but it can still be a very refreshing drink when done well. Clare Valley-based Taylors, whose wines are reliably well made and well priced, have moved outside their home region and sourced fruit from the cooler Adelaide Hills for this very attractive wine, perhaps more classic dry white in style than traditional savvy, but a really nice light style that is fresh and lively with passionfruit and Granny Smith notes and some vibrant acid. For those who care about such things it is vegan friendly. Pair with a quiche and salad, fish and chips or some oysters. Very good lunchtime or afternoon drinking. $22. www.taylorswines.com.au/  

La Noblesse 2020 Cabernet Franc

 

Cabernet franc is one of the grape varieties that shines in the lovely Loire Valley in France - and this is impressively varietal and terrific value for money. Fresh and lively with six months in oak adding some palate structure, it is very smooth, light-to medium bodied and extremely food friendly. This has bright red berry flavours and refreshment value if given a 30-minute chill prior to serving. Imported Fourth Wave Wines. Try with chilli con carne. $23. www.fourthwavewine.com.au/   

Pizzini 2021 Brachetto

 

The Pizzini family makes a whole lot more expensive wines than this in the King Valley of north-east Victoria, but I doubt there are many in the range that are more fun. Brachetto is a red Italian grape variety grown mainly in the Piedmont region, where it produces light-bodied wines with flavours of wild strawberries. This style is a close cousin of Moscato, frizzante, lively and quite sweet - but very refreshing. You could pair this with everything from scrambled eggs and bacon (it would be a lovely breakfast wine) to a cheese and charcuterie platter. Chill well. Drink young. $22. www.pizzini.com.au/

Merité 2021 Merlot Rosé

My monthly tasting group are a fairly fussy bunch with strong opinions about what they do and do not like. This stood out from a group of grenache-based roses last month with a consensus about its freshness and vibrancy. There was also general satisfaction with the price. This is a lively, pale and lightly savoury rosé made from new clones of merlot grapes that are shining at Merité at Wrattonbully on the Limestone Coast of South Australia. Fun to drink and a lovely lunchtime wine. Serve this chilled with a Lebanese platter. $24. https://meritewines.com/

Terre a Terre 2019 Les Crayeres Cabernet Franc Shiraz

 

Not only is this wine singing right now, it also offers quite formidably good value. An unusual blend of cabernet franc and shiraz (Bordeaux meets the Rhone) from the Limestone Coast in South Australia, the new vintage is a particularly strong one, according to Xavier Bizot and Lucy Croser. It is, as far as we know, the only such blend in Australia. As my Instagram followers know, I opened a bottle a few nights ago planning just a couple of sips but found myself with an empty bottle. I'm a little flabbergasted that a wine this good retails for just $32. I'd snap some up before it has sold out. https://terreaterre.com.au/

    

De Iuliis 2021 Pecorino

 

This is quite a discovery; a brilliantly flavoursome young white designed for enjoying in its youth. The pecorino grape, not to be confused with the Italian cheese of the same name, originates from the Marche and Abruzzo regions of Italy and the de Iuliis family were among the first to plant the grape in the Hunter Valley. The grapes allegedly got their name because the local sheep (pecora) were known to eat them from the vines. This is pale straw in colour, both fragrant and fruity, with plenty of length on the dry palate. Sensible alcohol levels at 12%, too. A seriously delicious wine for summer enjoyment with or without food. $25. www.dewine.com.au.

Elderton 2019 Barossa Shiraz

 

Here's an impressive Barossa shiraz that somehow manages to combine regional power with some elegance and style. There is no doubting the rich fruit on display from three estate vineyards with forest berries, dark chocolate and hints of spice all on offer. But there is also some restraint from minerally tannin structure and astutely judged vanillin oak. Very impressive; very stylish, very affordable. Pair with roast lamb en croute. $32. https://eldertonwines.com.au/

Lloyd Brothers 2021 Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon blanc is no longer as on-trend as it once was, but that has two benefits for wine lovers. 1. It is easier to source good examples and 2. It tends to be very affordable. This is a lovely, lively cool-climate savvy from the Adelaide Hills that offers lip-smacking late summer drinking enjoyment with a real freshness and vibrancy. There is a fruit salad vibe here with aromas and flavours from grapefruit to passionfruit and a youthful zest that would make this a perfect partner for fresh oysters or old school fish and chips. Chill. Drink. Open another bottle. $25. https://lloydbrothers.com.au/ 

Longview 2020 Macclesfield Syrah

 

Not all Australian shirazes are big, bold and in your face. This one from the Saturno family's Macclesfield vineyards in the Adelaide Hills is labelled as Syrah to indicate that it is a little more European in style; an Australian red with a Rhone accent. The cooler climate results in a subtle palette of blue and red berry flavours and hints of white pepper. It weighs in at a restrained 13.5% alcohol. Very stylish; very composed, very quaffable. $45. www.longviewvineyard.com.au/

Stoney Rise 2021 Gruner Veltliner

 

Joe Holyman is probably best known for his high-calibre Tamar Valley pinots noir and chardonnays, but he also makes a splash with less well-known varieties like trousseau and the Austrian white variety gruner veltliner - crafting the only example in Tasmania. The 2021 vintage has green apple and white pear flavours, hints of crushed almonds and a crisp, lively palate that makes it ideal for pairing with fresh local seafood. Textural, unfined, unfiltered and very appealing, Holyman says it is a perfect match for Patagonian toothfish. He loves a joke. Made in tiny quantities. $32. www.stoneyrise.com/