Wickhams Road 2026 Yarra Valley Chardonnay

 

Looking for a stylish cool-climate chardonnay from the Yarra Valley that offers exceptional value for money? You've come to the right place. This is a delightful fresh young thing that winemaker Franco d'Anna says is made with the same care and attention as his Hoddles Creek estate chardonnays. This is made from grapes grown at Bulong Estate at Yarra Junction - the vines were planted back in 1997 - and it is vibrant, fresh and well balanced. There are three chardonnays in the Wickhams Hill range and all are worth a look at the ridiculously low price of $19.99. https://www.hoddlescreekestate.com.au/

Mount Horrocks 2026 Watervale Riesling

 

Mount Horrocks is a seriously boutique producer in the Clare Valley. Vigneron Stephanie Toole makes only 3,000 cases a year, and just 500 cases of this stunning riesling. All her wines are organic and biodynamic and this new release is gloriously vibrant - a classic example of dry Watervale riesling. Crisp, crunchy and extremely food friendly, it is described by Toole as "a wine of immense purity and finesse".  Think floral aromas, lifted citrus notes, river pebble minerality and brisk acid on the finish. Pair this taut number with salt and pepper squid, or pan-fried sardines. Lovely, and great value. $45. https://www.mounthorrocks.com/ 

Jacob's Creek 2026 Le Petit Rosé

I don't pay a lot of attention to wine show results but when a new-release sub-$20 wine that is widely available cracks a trophy at a major shows then my attention is piqued. This snagged the Leslie Kemeny Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Rosé at the recent Royal Sydney Wine Show (and later won best rosé in Perth), so I asked for a sample. It's a good 'un: fun, dry and food friendly. It is a fresh and lively blend of pinot noir, grenache and mourvedre with bright acid and some chalky texture. Ideal for enjoying chilled with a picnic, charcuterie plate, Middle Eastern dishes, or a creamy pasta dish. The RRP is $20 but you'll find it cheaper if you search. https://jacobscreek.com/ 

Oakdene 2025 Chardonnay

 

What a fun and affordable wine this is: perfect for midweek tippling. From reliable Bellarine Peninsula producer Oakdene, it is unmistakably chardonnay, but without all the un-needed bells and whistles. 100% chardonnay and 100% Geelong, this did spend some time in a combo of new and old oak but it is the cool-climate fruit - bright and lively - that is the driving force here. If you haven't tried wines from Oakdene before this is a very good starting point and would pair brilliantly with some barbecued pork spare ribs. $30. https://www.oakdene.com.au/  

Bollinger B16 Vintage

With Father's Day just around corner this recent release from one of the leading Champagne houses might just be up a wine-loving Dad's street. It is the newest addition to the By Bollinger series, a collection that showcases the Maison's historic winemaking credentials - and its traditional pinot noir-led power and structure. The collection began with by Bollinger 2003, followed a decade later by B13. Now, B16, the third instalment in the series, shines a spotlight on the late-ripening terroirs of the Montagne de Reims. It is full of apple and pear flavours, some brioche/mineral notes, with spicy hints and a silky finish after being aged for more than seven years on lees and finished with a 4g/L dosage. While this can be enjoyed as an aperitif, it would be better enjoyed with dinner. It is sold in a stylish gift box. $270. https://www.champagne-bollinger.com/en/

Cullen 2025 Diana Madeline Legacy Series Solstice Sun Cabernet Sauvignon

Looking for a very special, limited-release wine as a Father's Day gift for a serious wine lover? Only around 400 bottles of this were made. Released this week, it is an impressively complete red blend, hand harvested on a Biodynamic Flower Day and New Moon in late February. This inaugural release was made using fruit from the oldest plantings of cabernet sauvignon from the Cullen Vineyard in Margaret River. This gem from Vanya Cullen and her biodynamic and organics-focused team is complex, silky and superbly balanced; immediately accessible in its youth but a potential cellaring prospect. It paired brilliantly with Asian-braised lamb loin chops. $350. https://cullenwines.com.au/

Henschke 2025 The Nurturer

 

This new release blend from the Henschke family has a calm, quiet charm about it. It clearly comes from a place of contentment. It is named in honour of family matriarch Prue Henschke, a viticulturist, botanist and environmentalist behind the organics practiced across the family's vines. The Nurturer is a most unusual combination of southern French varieties grown in the Eden Valley: carignan, counoise, grenache gris, grenache noir, clairette, cinsault and shiraz (each variety added in harvest order). It works brilliantly if you like your reds a little less blockbuster, a little more contemplative. Aromatic and vibrant with lively red and black fruit notes, we paired this with savoury Middle Eastern bourekas, thin layers of pastry filled with cheese and pepperberries. Excellent value at $40. https://www.henschke.com.au/

Tapanappa 2023 Definitus Pinot Noir

 

Find some pinot noirs a little lightweight? Not this one from wine elder Brian Croser at Tapanappa. This is deeply coloured, intense, profound and cellar worthy. Made from fruit grown in the centre slope of the Foggy Hill Vineyard "distinguished site" on the Fleurieu Peninsula, the 2023 is the sixth release of this special wine, hand harvested from a cool vintage. After malolactic fermentation on full lees, the juice was racked and returned to barriques for maturation. The wine has just been released after over two years in bottle and. Savoury, spicy and stunning. Made in tiny quantities. 94 points. $90. https://tapanappa.com.au/

Ten Minutes by Tractor 2025 McCutcheon Chardonnay

The key to the appeal of the Ten Minutes by Tractor individual vineyard wines is their completeness. They all have a unique presence where everything is in perfect balance; even in their youth. There is a laser-like focus on quality from winemaker Imogen Dillon here - and from a top-notch vintage. The Ten Minutes by Tractor story by Martin Spedding and his family began in the early 1990s with three vineyards planted in Main Ridge on the cool Mornington Peninsula, each 10 minutes by tractor apart. This is from one of those original vineyards. Fermented in concrete before being transferred to barrel, it has an impressive minerality to it along with citrus and tropical notes and astutely adjudged French oak. With impressive length, this is the full Burgundian package. 97 points. $95. https://www.tenminutesbytractor.com.au/ 

Vasse Felix 2025 Classic Dry Red

 

We are in bargain basement territory here with the new release of a "drink now" red from one of Margaret River's pioneering wineries. Previously made using shiraz grapes, this is now a slurpable cabernet sauvignon-driven blend (there's also some merlot and malbec in the mix) with vibrant fresh fruit flavours the driving force. Estate grown and made to meet the growing demand for lighter, uncomplicated red wines, this is unoaked, saw wild yeast fermentation and spent eight months in stainless steel tanks before release. Immediately approachable at 13.5% alcohol, it would be a fine choice for a barbecue, or pasta night with friends. $20. www.vassefelix.com.au 

Unico Zelo 2025 Pastafarian

Fresh and vibrant, this Clare Valley sangiovese from innovator Brendan Carter and the team at Unico Zelo in the Adelaide Hills is disarmingly drinkable. I had had a couple of sips with my spaghetti bolognaise and the bottle was mysteriously half empty. That might be because this is the unofficial wine of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or be simply because it is a damn good drink. Distributed by Franc About Wine, the most recent vintages have been sangiovese based after the wine started out as a nebbiolo. Looking for a wine to take to your local pizza or pasta joint? You've come to the right place. $36. https://www.unicozelo.com.au/

Hurley Vineyard 2024 Garamond Pinot Noir

 

The 2024 Hurley Vineyard Garamond Pinot Noir is my favourite pinot of the year so far. The other three Hurley wines from the vintage are all outstanding, but this one has that faint tinge of rusticity that distinguishes the great burgundies. I've been enjoying wines from this tiny domain for close to a quarter of a century now; this is the 24th vintage from legal eagles Kevin Bell and Tricia Byrnes and during that time their pinots have become much sought-after by aficionados. This is my pick of the three individual vineyards, which comprise just 3.5 hectares on the Mornington Peninsula. All fruit is estate grown and all wines made on sight by Bell, a former Victorian Supreme Court judge. This is basket pressed and bottled after 20 months French oak with zero fining or filtrations. Super satisfying. A wine of balance, style and character well worth splashing out on. $130. www.hurleyvineyard.com.au 

Cote Mas 2024 Syrah

 

Bastille Day is just around the corner on July 14 and what better way to celebrate France's national day on a budget than with this excellent Languedoc syrah from innovative French winemaker Jean-Claude Mas, also known as the Arrogant Frog? This is delightfully easy to drink: what Mas describes as describes as "expressive and accessible".  It reflects the sunshine of the south of France with its generous flavours, but also offers some chic style and suppleness on the finish. You could pair this with anything from a barbecue to a picnic - and the price is certainly right at $17.99 at Dan Murphy's stores. https://www.cote-mas.fr/en/  

Penfolds 50-Year-0ld Rare Aged Tawny

Do you have long arms, deep pockets and a serious love of richly textured fortified wines? The ninth series of Penfolds 50 Year Old Rare Tawny is one for serious collectors with only 333 bottles to be released. I was lucky enough to try the new release from numbered bottle No.1 at Magill Estate. This is a symbol of Penfolds heritage, drawing many very old vintages, so while it carries a minimum average age of 50 years, the blend incorporates several historically significant components. Bottles are hand blown and hand filled. This is amber coloured, seductive and succulent with nutty hints and toffee apple goodness. Downright delicious. I enjoyed it with sticky date pudding. So should you. $3500. www.penfolds.com

Longview 2023 Macclesfield Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Here's an impressive winter red from a star producer in the Adelaide Hills; a wine that ticks a lot of boxes. The estate vineyard produces wines of style and substance at very fair prices and this one showed a disturbing evaporation problem as the bottle level dipped at an alarming rate. It offers classic cooler-climate cabernet character with blackcurrant and French herb notes on a dry palate. This is dark, cedary and gently spicy. Made in small quantities, so cellar door is probably the best place to access. This would pair brilliantly with roast lamb en croute or calves' liver with onions. $48. https://www.longviewvineyard.com.au/ 

The Drover 2025 Pinot Grigio

 

Who says it is hard to find a wine bargain nowadays? This bright and breezy pinot grigio from Dee Vine Estate won the trophy for the best gris/grigio at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show, beating entries from some of the biggest names in the business. Wine show results don't necessarily count for a lot, but I've tasted this and it is crisp, clean and fresh with some zingy acid on the finish, making it ideal for pairing with Thai or Korean cuisine, or with fresh shellfish. The fruit comes from the Riverina and it was clearly picked at the right time for vibrancy and flavour. No oak was involved, so I'd serve it chilled right now while it is still so perky. Here's the good news:  the price is just $8 a bottle. https://www.deevineestate.com/the-drover/the-drover-pinot-grigio    

Terre a Terre 2022 Crayeres Vineyard Reserve

 

Terre a Terre has built a formidable reputation for higher echelon South Australian reds with just a touch of French swagger added by winemaker Xavier Bizot. From the first sniff and sip this identified itself as something special; a wine of style and substance to grace any dinner table. Think length, power and balance with dark fruits to the fore. This is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (66%,) shiraz (17%) and dollop of cabernet franc - a classic Claret style made entirely from estate fruit grown at Wrattonbully on the Limestone Coast. I liked this a lot and gave it 97 points. Pair with Moroccan roast lamb.  $90. https://terreaterre.com.au/

Curly Flat 2025 White Pinot

 
Here is something a little bit different from outstanding Macedon Ranges producer Curly Flat - a rosé style that is effectively a white wine made from a red wine grape. Using only free-run juice, it is fermented with wild yeasts and aged in old oak puncheons. Lightly salmon coloured, it is a pale, composed and very dry wine with bright acid on a brisk, refreshing finish. Pair with a chicken pie, or a vegetable quiche, or share with friends and challenge them to identify the grape. An unusual marriage that delivers lovely drinking. Best enjoyed lightly chilled. $34. https://curlyflat.com/

 

Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard 2024 Shiraz

 

Some wines sing. This is a Pavarotti extravaganza. The new vintage of the Hunter Valley's standout red will be released in June - and it is a star turn - a wine of concentration, structure and distinction. The Pokolbin vineyard grapes, from vines that are 56 years old, are aided and abetted by 100% French oak (15% new), which is soaked up by the quality fruit.  Very composed, impeccably balanced. Dark with layers of flavours; and sensual, savoury notes. This is elegant but rounded; precise and very sexy. An icon from winemaker Stuart Hordern and his team that gets 98 points from me. Wish I could afford a bottle or two to put away as this is a brilliant cellaring prospect for the next three decades. $500. www.brokenwood.com.au

Pewsey Vale 2025 Riesling

 

Walk into any wine shop and you are likely to be confronted by a bewildering array of choices. Some days you might feel like experimenting; others you might want to be assured you are getting a familiar favourite that always delivers. The Hill-Smith family has been producing the dry Pewsey Vale riesling since 1847 - using fruit from a lovely vineyard in the hills of the Eden Valley in the Barossa. Year in, year out this single site wine delivers excellent drinking for under $30 - think intense aromas with a melange of citrus, leading to bright acid and stunning length on the palate. After a few months in bottle this is sitting in a very comfortable space and would pair with anything from fresh Tassie oysters to salt and pepper squid. $28.