Parker Coonawarra Estate 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

If your wine budget is a bit stretched post-Christmas this new release from the team at Parker Coonawarra Estate delivers a whole lot of value for a very reasonable price. This is designed for early drinking but has plenty of style and swagger; definitely fruit driven with maturation in older French oak barriques and hogsheads playing a minor support role. A very good choice if a few friends drop around for dinner, or you want to add a touch of class to your backyard barbecue. $24. www.parkercoonawarraestate.com.au   

Tim Adams 2021 Pinot Gris

 

A few months in bottle have left this perennial favourite well primed for summer enjoyment. You get the best elements of both Pinot G styles here; freshness and vibrancy along with texture and complexity. Pinkish in colour, this is a delightful food wine, ideal for pairing with everything from seafood to picnics. Stone fruit flavours are to the fore here, along with some restrained acidity. Lovely drinking and great value. My bottle just evaporated. $24. www.timadamswines.com.au/

Chandon NV Blanc de Blancs

How good is this? A high-quality blanc de blancs style from one of the pioneers of sparkling wine in Australia that is just perfect for summer enjoyment. A blend of fruit from the Yarra Valley, Strathbogie Ranges and Whitlands in Victoria, this is crisp, dry and extremely refreshing - a perfect party or aperitif choice. Aromatic with green apple and lemon notes to the fore, this is delicate, easy to drink and terrific value. $25. www.chandon.com.au/

Wickhams Road 2021 Chardonnay

The Wickhams Road range has to be one of the best value labels in Australia for "drink now" chardonnays and pinot noirs. The entry-level label of excellent Yarra Valley producer Hoddles Creek, these wines retail for under $20 - which is just ridiculous. Fruit-forward but beautifully balanced at 13% alcohol, this is made from cool-climate Woori Yallock fruit and pairs beautifully with roast pork and crackling. $19. www.hoddlescreekestate.com.au/

Ross Hill 2019 Harry Pinot Noir

Pinot noir and affordable do not often share the same sentence. Pinot noir is a pernickety grape, difficult to make well, and the best examples are invariably expensive. Here, however, is an exception to the rule; a delicious cool-climate pinot noir from a family winery at Orange in western New South Wales that delivers plenty of quality bang for your buck. For a start this tastes like pinot noir, not a generic soft dry red, with classic red berry and undergrowth notes and subtle older French oak. It retails for around $30 - a bargain. Harry, by the way, is one of the grandchildren of winery founders Peter and Terri Robinson. When he's old enough he'll love drinking this. $30. www.rosshillwines.com.au. 

Fringe Société 2020 Grenache Blanc

 

Regular readers may remember I recommended the gamay in this range a short while back. It may be a little too early to contemplate a trip to the south of France, but this delicious young white from the Pays d'Oc appellation offers an affordable, drinkable alternative made at a good co-op in the town of Cebezan. Think a vinous cocktail of stone fruits, tropical fruits and some citrus notes; a very refreshing drop with no discernable oak. Yes, grenache blanc is related to the red grape variety grenache. Fruity and fun and terrific value for $20. Distributed by the Joval Wine Group.    

Serafino 2021 Bellisimo Montepulciano

 

Juicy, slurpable, food-friendly summer drinking with an Italian accent? This McLaren Vale release delivers at a very reasonable price. Montepulciano is a red grape variety found throughout central and southern Italy that has proved a huge success in warmer regions of Australia. Bright fruit and savoury spice notes combine impressively in a wine made by the Maglieri family, who themselves have Italian origins. This will pair with dishes ranging from from spatchcock to lamb kofta. Lovely stuff. $24. www.serafino.com.au       

Berton Vineyards 2021 Winemakers Reserve Aranel

 





Aranel is an extremely obscure hybrid white wine grape derived from grenache gris and Saint-Pierre Doré (both almost equally rare). It originates in the Auvergne region of France and has, bizarrely, found a home in the New South Wales Riverina region. This is well worth seeking out as it is light, fresh and citrusy with floral hints on the nose and offers zingy summer refreshment when served well chilled. It paired very pleasingly with chilli chicken dish. $20. It will be released this week, so get onto www.bertonvineyards.com.au before it sells out.

Glaetzer-Dixon 2018 Mon Pere Shiraz

It is a decade since the 2010 vintage of the Glaetzer-Dixon Mon Pére Shiraz stunned the Australian wine industry by winning the coveted Jimmy Watson Trophy at the Melbourne Wine Show. A shiraz from Tasmania? Seriously? Ten years on and this wine remains a benchmark. Made predominantly from the Upper Derwent Valley, with about 10% of the blend from the Coal River Valley, this a a lovely medium-bodied, cellar-worthy shiraz with red and black berry fruit, white pepper and deli notes along with a smooth, elegant finish that is given added texture by 30% new French oak. The wine pays tribute to winemaker Nick Glaetzer's father, Barossa vigneron Colin Glaetzer. $65. www.gdfwinemakers.com/

Eldridge Estate 2021 PTG

 

Eldridge Estate winemaker David Lloyd has been doing it tough recently. Friends helped out in 2020 as Lloyd recovered from a stage 4 diagnosis of Burkitt Lymphoma to his current state of remission. This is one of his first releases from 2021 - a personal favourite of mine. Inspired by the Passetoutgrains blends of Burgundy - hence the name PTG - this Mornington Peninsula wine is a blend of gamay and pinot noir designed for enjoyment in its youth. It's vibrant, light and joyful with red fruits to the fore and can easily be enjoyed chilled with a picnic. Lovely stuff. $36. https://www.eldridge-estate.com.au/

West Cape Howe 2019 Styx Gully Chardonnay

 

It doesn't matter whether you are buying an entry level bottle, or something a little bit more expensive given West Cape Howe is one of those wine producers that always delivers excellent value for money. This Mount Barker chardonnay from West Australia's Great Southern is a case in point with delicious citrus and green melon characters on the palate and barrel ferment and quality oak adding textural interest. This elegant and restrained wine would pair with poultry dishes, roast pork or pan-fried seafood and tastes more expensive than its asking price. $30. www.westcapehowewines.com.au/ 

Grey Sands 2017 Byzantine

 

Bob and Rita Richter do things a little differently at Grey Sands, their vineyard at Glengarry in northern Tasmania. All vines are hand tended, hand pruned and the fruit is dry grown and hand picked. They have also planted many "alternative" grape varieties and let the wines speak of their terroir. Wines are only released when they are ready. If you are looking for idiosyncratic then you have come to the right place. This is a blend of chardonnay, viognier and malvasia bianca that shone when paired with spicy chicken skewers. It has chardonnay characters to the fore with some interesting glazed fruit notes and textural grip. Long, dry and delightful. $45. greysands.com.au

Oakridge 2019 864 Syrah

Most wine lovers will associate David Bicknell and his Oakridge team with stellar Yarra Valley chardonnay and pinot noir. What is less well known is that Oakridge also produces outstanding shiraz and cabernet releases. Here is a very impressive case in point, a stylish, elegant syrah that uses fruit from a close-planted vineyard site near the winery.  Matured for 10 months in 10% new French puncheons, this is deliciously savoury with lovely tannin structure and a sassy charm. Think bright, fresh fruit flavours, just a smidgen of cool-climate spice and a soft, smooth finish. One for a special dinner party. 97 points from me. $90. www.oakridgewines.com.au/ 

Grosset 2021 Polish Hill Riesling

 

Jeff Grosset's Polish Hill is consistently Australia's finest riesling; steely and potentially long-lived. Over the past couple of vintage, however, the Polish Hill has undergone a subtle transformation. Grossett isn't sure of the reason but recent-release Polish Hills have become more approachable in their youth; a tad more cuddly. This retains the vibrant layered lime and grapefruit notes and brisk mineral acidity for which the wine is known, but is a little more approachable in its youth. Organic and biodynamic certified throughout the process, this would be delicious paired with pan-fried garfish or King George whiting. $72. www.grosset.com.au/   

Three's A Crowd Pinot Grigio

 

The Murphy family from Trentham Estate has built a major reputation for quality wines at affordable prices, and you certainly can't go wrong with their new-release 1.5 litre wine pouches. The initial releases are a pinot noir and this pinot grigio. "Tasty", "fruity" and "easy to drink" were three of the comments from tasters with whom I shared this. It's an ideal cheap and cheerful choice for a picnic or day on the beach, fresh, zesty and food-friendly. A glass will cost you around $1 - which makes it formidable value, regardless of the format. Chill, quaff. Simples. $16 for 1.5 litres. www.trenthamestate.com.au.

Stefano Lubiana 2018 Huon Valley Pinot Noir

The Huon Valley in the deep south of Tasmania is one of the best places on the planet to grow high-quality, cool-climate pinot noir. The Lubiana family purchased the former Panorama vineyard a few years ago, remediated the neglected vines and took out unsuitable varieties. This is made at Granton from 100% grown on the low-yielding Huon vineyard at Cradoc now known as Lucille, which is farmed using organic principles and will eventually be certified biodynamic. This is vegan friendly, floral with bright dark cherry fruit notes, lean tannin structure, hints of minerality and excellent drinkability in its youth. I gave this one 94 points. $62. www.slw.com.au    

Leeuwin Estate 2017 Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon

 

This one sings. Somewhere between Frank Sinatra at his cool best and Paul Rodgers of Free in full flight. Alison Krauss once described Rodgers' voice as "incredibly masculine, sexy, hardworking". The first two descriptors work for this wine, the third not. It is effortlessly excellent, a masterful expression of Margaret River cabernet that stood out from a bracket of other top-line wines from name producers. It is medium-bodied and stylish, slightly dusty and very beguiling. My bottle threw a bit of a crust, so it might be worth decanting, but either way you will be rewarded by a world-class wine with fine tannins and shiny fruit. Simply gorgeous. 96 points from me. $85. www.leeuwinestate.com.au 

Santa Margherita 2020 Pinot Grigio

 

In Australia there remains a lot of confusion between pinot grigio and pinot gris styles but this is the real deal, an authentic northern Italian pinot grigio from a well-established producer in the Adigo Valley region, where pinot grigio thrives as a fresh, crisp, easy-to-drink varietal. This is straw coloured with fresh dry apple and pear fruit characters to the fore and is immensely versatile with food. Try it with anything from washed-rind cheeses to Thai stir fries. Santa Margherita Wines began in 1935 and this offers an authentic taste of cool-climate Italy. Check out Dan Murphy's stores. $22-25. 

Kooyong 2019 Ferrous Pinot Noir

 

There is something very special about this Mornington Peninsula single vineyard pinot noir - and it id very much down to the vineyard in which the grapes are grown. The low-yielding block has a high incidence of ironstone pebbles that deliver wines with concentration and savoury tannic presence - think river pebbles - alongside juicy raspberry and cherry fruit notes. Medium-bodied but with a formidable presence, this is delicious in its youth, but is also a cellaring prospect. 96 points and another winner from ultra-reliable Glen Hayley. $75. www.portphillipestate.com.au/

Wines by KT 2017 5452 Grenache Mataro

 

Kerri Thompson is probably best known for her outstanding Clare Valley rieslings but this juicy red blend offers some of the best value in her range. At four years of age, it is right in the zone with juicy fruity drinkability from two southern French grape varieties allied to some savoury notes on the palate. The former Leasingham and Wirra Wirra winemaker has blended 75% grenache and 25% mataro, 50% whole bunch and basket pressed. The fruit is the star turn with French oak barriques adding interest in the background. Smooth, concentrated and exceptional value.$29. https://winesbykt.com/  

Castle Rock Estate 2019 Shiraz

Rob Diletti is a winemaker with a Midas touch - as evidenced by this seriously delicious coolish-climate shiraz that offers superb value for money. Castle Rock Estate is nestled on the eastern slopes of the Porongurup Mountain in the Great Southern of of Western Australia and is named after a prominent nearby granite landmark. This is dark in colour with a beguiling melange of dark fruit, savoury and mocha/chocolate notes. Very elegant with a soft, seductive finish, this is one worth seeking out. Went brilliantly with shepherd's pie. 95 points from me. $34. https://castlerockestate.com.au/

Pikes 2019 The Dogwalk Cabernets

The Pike family are probably best known for their exceptional value Clafre Valley rieslings, and a range of Italian varieties under the Luccio label. They also make some outstanding reds at very reasonable prices, with this new release an excellent example, A blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon and 25% cabernet franc, it is a perfect midweek red; well balanced with bright fruit guaranteed to put a smile on your dial. Perfect with pizza, pasta or a snag in a roll. $25. www.pikeswines.com.au/

Port Phillip Estate 2019 Morillon Chardonnay

 

Glen Hayley, who makes wines for both Port Phillip Estate and sibling label Kooyong, is on fire right now. The Morillon Chardonnay is sourced from a tiny section within the oldest chardonnay block (33+ years) at Port Phillip Estate’s Red Hill vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula. This is a wine of serious poise and structure; unmistakably cool climate with a delicious melange of citrus, Granny Smith apple and stone fruit characters. Pair with roast pork and crackling and try to show more restraint than I did (as was evidenced by an empty bottle in quick-smart time). $55. www.portphillipestate.com.au/

Tapanappa 2018 Foggy Hill Vineyard Definitus Pinot Noir

 

Serious pinot noir from industry veteran Brian Croser and his team at Tapanappa. The Definitus is made in tiny quantities from fruit grown on a one-hectare strip of the Foggy Hill vineyard on the Fleurieu Peninsula, south of Adelaide. It is a solid pinot with oak and herbal notes allied to some dark cherry fruit notes. The wine is matured in 30% new oak with the rest one- and two-year-old barrels, but the oak is well integrated. It is medium-bodied but certainly more concentrated than the regular Foggy Hill Vineyard pinot. There is a silkiness on the finish, but also some firm tannin structure. Medium-term cellaring is in order here. 94 points from me. $90. https://tapanappa.com.au/

Hahndorf Hill 2021 White Mischief

Larry Jacobs and Marc Dobson at Hahndorf Hill in the Adelaide Hills are the Australian trendsetters when it comes to the Austrian white wine variety gruner veltliner, making several different styles from the aromatic variety. This is a brand-new release of their "New World" style of gruner; fresh, vibrant and full of the joys of youth. Exuberant aromatics are followed up by a panoply of different fruit flavours from guava to grapefruit, a dry finish and juicy acidity, along with textural interest and intensity. This is dangerously drinkable, both on its own and paired with dishes ranging from Thai stir fries to fish and chips. $25. www.hahndorfhillwinery.com.au

Kirrihill 2020 Regional Series Riesling

 

This may just be on one of the best wine bargains around at the moment. Quality zingy and zippy dry riesling from the Clare Valley for under $20. I loved the refreshment value here; a  fragrant fresh and crisp young wine with delicious citrus fruit flavours and bright acidity. This would be terrific with pan-fried whiting, or maybe a prawn salad. It has already picked up a show gold medal. Vegan friendly and low in alcohol at 11..5%. Seriously yummy this one. $19. www.kirrihill.com.au/ 

Hay Shed Hill 2020 Vineyard Series Chardonnay

 

This is just one of a range of impressive, stylish and well-priced wines from Hay Shed HIll winemaker Michael Kerrigan and his team in Margaret River. The Block Six and Morrison's Gift also shine brightly. It is a beautifully balanced wine with bright citrus and stone fruit notes, impressive layers of flavours and understated oak. The quality fruit does all the talking. This paired impressively with a roast chicken dinner. Fresh, lively, crisp and delicious.$28. https://hayshedhill.com.au/

Yangarra 2019 Ovitelli Grenache

 

The perfect winter warmer wine from Pete Fraser and his team of biodynamic and organic dynamos at Yangarra in McLaren Vale: juicy, fruit and absolutely delicious. Sip it, or quaff it, either way will work. Dark in colour, aromatic and full of plummy, dark berry goodness, this would pair well with a warming game casserole. Certified organic.$60. www.yangarra.com. 

Champagne Duval-Leroy NV Brut Reserve

 

It's been a while since I tasted the Duval-Leroy Brut Reserve and the current iteration is extremely impressive; a seamless blend of pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay that really sparkles. That's actually not a pun, with this wine having a particularly vibrant mousse, along with complexity, finesse, lightness and elegance. Think lemon sherbet and lime zest. If you enjoy Champagnes from Billecart Salmon or Gosset, add the wines from Carol Duval-Leroy and her family to your shopping list. The Duval-Leroy family has been making bubbles since 1859 and is currently run by the sixth generation. Imported by Vintage House/Angove. $75. www.vhws.com.au/

Parker Coonawarra Estate 2018 95 Block

 

Parker Coonawarra Estate make a range of uniformly excellent wines, but this one really shines for me. It is seriously delicious; muscular but elegant and comprises an unusual blend of cabernet sauvignon (80%) and petit verdot (20%), made from fruit grown on vines that are original cuttings from Bordeaux, brought to Coonawarra before they were lost to France due to Phylloxera in the late 1800s. Dark, rich, brambly and beautifully balanced. Drink now, or cellar. This 2018 vintage shone with a winter steak and kidney casserole with herbed dumplings. $65. https://www.parkercoonawarraestate.com.au/

De Iuliis 2021 Estate Semillon

 

OK. I didn't taste this wine blind, as I usually do, and I tasted it while staying on the winemaker's property in the Hunter Valley. But disclaimers aside, this is just too delicious not to recommend. Mike de Iuliis and his team produce wines at a range of price points that offer excellent value but this brand-new release from the recently concluded 2021 vintage screams "drink me". Zingy with lifted citrus characters, a lightness of being on the palate, and crisp, lively acids on the finish, this needs to be well chilled and enjoyed at the end of hard day at work. Instant bliss. $25. https://dewine.com.au/   

Mr Barval 2019 Vino Rosso

 

I have been working my through several Mr Barval releases over the past few weeks - and have been extremely impressed by a range with which I was not previously familiar. Mr Barval is the brand of much-travelled Robert Gherardi (who has worked at Moss Wood and Cullen) with Mr standing for Margaret River and Barval for Barolo (his wine love) and Valtellina (his ancestral home in Italy). This is a blend of merlot, petit verdot and malbec (how very right bank) that was wild fermented and basket pressed to produce a soft, smooth, easy-drinking style of considerable substance made in small quantities. Move quickly if you want to snap some up. 93 points. $30. www.mrbarval.com   

Leeuwin Estate 2018 Art Series Chardonnay

 

World-class chardonnay from one of the benchmark producers in Margaret River. This is the best high-end chardonnay of the year so far with intensity and drive. Aromas, flavours and textures are as tightly-knit as early Led Zeppelin and the end result is a white to rival the best of Burgundy; a wine of immense style and balance. The new oak is complemented by powerful citrus and white stone fruit resulting a wine of serious finesse. Happy to give this 97/100. $126. https://leeuwinestate.com.au/

Elderton 2019 Barossa Merlot

 

Merlot has never enjoyed the same popularity with Australian wine drinkers as it has with their American counterparts, but this is a very impressive wine - soft and powerful - from the Barossa Valley. It has all the plushness you'd expect on the palate, but also structure that hints at medium-term staying power. Dark in colour, this would pair well with everything from a gourmet burger to roast beef and all the trimmings. $35. https://eldertonwines.com.au/product/barossa-merlot/

MacLean Bay 2020 Pinot Rosé

 

Over the past couple of vintages, MacLean Bay - based at Bicheno on Tasmania's warmer east coast - have established themselves as one of the better producers of dry rosés on the island state. The 2019 was outstanding and this is a worthy successor - and overdue - as the 2019 had long sold out. It is made from 100% estate pinot noir fruit with classic strawberry and cream flavours. It is fresh and dry with a crisp finish. Great with salads or picnics and good value for $28. An ideal choice for late summer quaffing. www.macleanbaywines.com.au/

Olivers Taranga Small Batch 2019 Mencia

There are only a handful of producers of mencia in Australia, which on the evidence of this outstanding wine from Olivers Taranga in McLaren Vale is a great pity. This is a pretty red, think Beaujolais with bit more meat on its bones, garlic on its breath and a slight snarl. This Spanish variety, known as Jaen in Portugal, is primarily found in north-west Spain and is undergoing a renaissance in popularity. This has floral aromas and bright cherry flavours, a hint of rustic farm and a lively savoury palate. The winemaking team reckon you should pair it with paella; I'd go for an old-fashioned charcuterie plate with some spicy chorizo.. Either way, give it a go. 95 points from me. $35. www.oliverstaranga.com/

Alkoomi 2019 White Label Cabernet Merlot

The white label range from family owned- and operated West Australian winery Alkoomi always offers terrific wine value with this new release a case in point. Made with Frankland River fruit from several blocks, it has rare depth and complexity for a $20 red. Blackberry notes jostle with some dark currant flavours and French oak notes on a palate full of personality. Chewy and interesting and a good partner for just about any beef dish. A very good choice for midweek enjoyment. $20. 

www.alkoomiwines.com.au/

Chalmers 2020 Montevecchio Bianco

 

I think I have discovered the perfect white wine for late summer quaffing enjoyment - a little slice of Italy in a glass. This is fresh, crisp, lively, delicious and different. From the Chalmers vineyards at Heathcote in Victoria, this is a co-fermented field blend of six different Italian grape varieties; vermentino, pecorino, ribolla gialla, falanghina, moscato giallo and fiano. The end result is floral with bright acid citrus notes and some chalky texture. Vibrant and well worth seeking out. $24. www.chalmers.com.au/  

Fraser Gallop Estate 2018 Parterre Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Established in 1999, it took Fraser Gallop Estate less than two decades to join the very top echelon of Margaret River producers. Located in the "golden strip" of Wilyabrup, north of Margaret River township, the estate has 50 acres under vine. Just edging out the 2017 Parterre on my scorecard, this is a classic Bordeaux blend of (largely) cabernet sauvignon with petit verdot. malbec, merlot and cabernet franc. Even in its youth it has appeal but like an elite athlete it is just warming up and would be very much at home in a cool cellar for a decade or so. Classic, stylish, concentrated. 95.5 points. 

$55. www.frasergallopestate.com.au/

Clonakilla 2019 Shiraz Viognier

 

A special occasion to celebrate? May I point you in the direction of the opulent new-release Clonakilla 2019 Shiraz Viognier, a benchmark Australian red blend of red and white grapes (94% shiraz and 6% viognier c-fermented). Winemaker Tim Kirk says yields were down 20% but he cannot recall many vintages with more power and intensity. This is powerful, dark, plush and cellarworthy. Clonakilla is a small, family business at Murrumbateman, outside Canberra, that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Buy a bottle and raise a toast to this Rhone-influenced standout. $120. https://clonakilla.com.au/

Longview Vineyard 2020 Macclesfield Gruner Veltliner

 

Gruner Veltliner, the spicy white wine standout from Austria, is making itself very much at home in the Adelaide Hills - and this is one of the best yet. Grown on the immaculately tended Macclesfield vineyards of the Saturno family on the southern edge of the Hills, this is among the best Australian gruners yet. It is poised and intense with both citrus and white stone fruit flavours and some fresh ground pepper notes with pebbly minerality on the finish. Absolutely delightful. $30. www.longviewvineyard.com.au. 

Bay of Fires 2019 Pinot Noir

 

Penny Jones and her team at Bay of Fires never put a foot wrong when it comes to producing quality cool-climate wines from Tasmania. This recent-release pinot noir is made from fruit grown at three vineyards on the warmer east coast of the island state, blended with grapes from the Tamar Valley. This a very modern wine; red berry fruits to the fore with a hint of Asian spice notes, plenty of palate length and a soft, savoury finish. This has matured since I reviewed it a few months back for my Tasmanian blog. It can be lightly chilled over summer, or just enjoyed on the back porch with a charcuterie plate. Lovely stuff. $62. www.bayoffireswines.com.au/  

Gala Estate 2020 White Label Chardonnay

 

Gala Estate is one of the rising stars of the Tasmanian wine industry with recent releases very much on song. This is a delightful cool-climate chardonnay made from fruit grown on the sunny east coast. The family behind the label may be relatively new to the wine business, but they have farmed in Tasmania for 200 years. This has classic green apple, stone fruit and citrus flavours and some lively refreshing acidity. Pair with pan-fried flathead. $35. www.galaestate.com.au.        

Oakridge 2020 Over The Shoulder Cabernet Merlot

 

The Yarra Valley is probably not the first place you would look for an affordable high-quality cabernet merlot blend, but this vibrant and fresh young release from David Bicknell and the team at Oakridge defies expectations to deliver a whole lot of bang for your buck. This is 82% cabernet, 18% merlot from three different regions of the Yarra. A long, cool ripening period has helped construct a purple-hued, juicy cool-climate red with plenty of length and verve. Subtle, food friendly and great value for money. $24. www.oakridgewines.com.au   

Moss Wood 2020 Semillon

 

Moss Wood have been making wines in Margaret River since the industry began in the region - planting their first vines in Wilyabrup in 1969. This has a real wow! factor about it, with incredible depth of flavour. While many in the region blend semillon with sauvignon blanc, this is made in the Hunter style; 100% semillon, clear juice with multiple yeasts, unoaked and bottled after cold fermentation. It has white stone fruit flavours and Granny Smith apple notes to the fore with some Thai spice nuances and impressive textural elements. Brilliant with seafood or spicy cuisine. $36. www.mosswood.com.au