Harewood 2023 Porongurup Riesling

 

Harewood Estate produces an impressive range of dry rieslings from different sites across the huge Great Southern district of Western Australia, a region that has built a formidable reputation for excellence. Winemaker James Kellie has a suite of excellent 2023 releases - the Mount Barker was my other favourite - and this one shines brightly with its clarity, precision and vibrancy. Made using free-run juice from grapes grown on granite soils, there are classic citrus/sherbet flavours, flinty mineral notes and some tangy acidity on the palate. Chill well and pair with some briney oysters. $35. https://www.harewood.com.au/  

El Toro Macho 2021 Tempranillo Bobal

 
If you paid $25 for a bottle of this I reckon you would be pretty happy with your purchase. That you can buy it for under $6 at Aldi stores makes it perhaps the best wine bargain in Australia today. If you are looking for wine to accompany a spring barbecue, or a "midweek" drink to drink alongside pasta and pizza dishes - or some tapas - you won't go wrong with this juicy, medium-bodied red. How they do it for the price I have no idea. Here's the lowdown: it is a medium-bodied blend of two Spanish varieties from Uteil Requena in Valencia that is packed with savoury, food-friendly flavours but finishes soft and smooth on the palate. $5.99.

 

El Desperado 2023 Rosé

 

El Desperado is the budget range from winemaker Tom Keelan at The Pawn - and the 2023 releases represent seriously good value for money, being full of joie de vivre and potential summer refreshment. The labels are made using artificial intelligence, but the wines are very real. A blend of Langhorne Creek tempranillo and sangiovese grapes, this has some lively strawberry and cream notes leading on to fresh, crunchy acid and vibrant apple, Turkish Delight and citrus notes on the finish. Chill, then pair with a picnic, or a Lebanese feast, or just enjoy a glass or two after work. $20.

Flametree 2022 Shiraz

When you think Margaret River, shiraz is unlikely to be the first grape variety that comes to mind. Which means there is often excellent value to be found when buying shirazes from the region; as evidenced by this beautifully balanced recent release from Flametree. Veteran winemaker Cliff Royle has got this one spot on; with some sun-dried stems, a portion of whole bunch and some whole berries in the ferments; adding palate interest and structure. This is a delightful medium-bodied red with bright fruit characters that makes it immediately accessible. There are myriad flavours here, but they are impressively cohesive. Terrific value at $30. https://www.flametreewines.com/