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