Coldstream Hills 2018 Pinot Chardonnay Sparkling

Coldstream Hills, founded 40 years ago by wine guru James Halliday, is renowned for its outstanding chardonnays and pinot noirs from the Yarra Valley. This aged sparkling was a surprise star of a recent Treasury portfolio tasting, with an impressive combination of lemony tang and lively mousse alongside brioche/crumble/toasty notes. It is a very stylish and sophisticated bubbly from winemaker Andrew Fleming and his team, fresh enough with its bright acid to be enjoyable as an aperitif, but complex enough to match with Christmas turkey, having spent six years on yeast lees prior to disgorging. Outstanding value for $35. https://www.coldstreamhills.com.au/     

 

Feudo Arancio 2024 Grillo

 

Feudo Arancio is an Italian producer - based in Sicily - that delivers a wide range of Italian wine tastes at very fair prices. The name means "orange farm" and this an impressively floral, dry, tropical and textural white wine that offers outstanding value. It is a white that combines palate richness with crisp acid on the finish, making it a very versatile choice for summer quaffing. Grillo is a popular grape in Sicily, where it matches with the local seafood. The tropical fruit salad notes here also make it a great choice for pairing with roasted or grilled chicken dishes. It is also well suited to sipping well chilled in the backyard on a summer afternoon. It is imported by Sydney-based Single Vineyard Sellers, who bring in a range of excellent Italian wines. $20. https://www.singlevineyards.com/