Veuve Monsigny NV Premier Cru Brut Champagne

Light, brisk and breezy Champagne for under $40 a bottle? It's hard to go wrong with this seasonal special at ALDI supermarkets, made by the team from Philizot et Fills at Reuil in the Marne Valley. There is nothing complex here. but there is plenty of enjoyment for parties or family gatherings (or perhaps with fish and chips) and at half the price of many of its competitors. It is a traditional Champagne blend of pinot noir, pinot meunier, and chardonnay grapes with fresh citrus flavours to the fore, vibrant bubbles and plenty of length. A lot of fun. $39.99 but seen on special for $34.99. https://www.aldi.com.au/

Coriole 2025 Negroamaro

 

Coriole is a family-owned and -operated wine producer in McLaren Vale with a long, impressive history of pioneering wines made from alternative grape varieties including piquepoul, fiano, sangiovese and montepulciano. This is a beguiling, medium-bodied and food-friendly "drink now" red made from negroamaro, a savoury red grape that is native to the warm climate of Puglia in southern Italy. It is an ideal choice to have a bottle or two on hand when friends pop by to share some pizza or a bowl of pasta. It is fruit-driven with bright aromas, some earthy notes and brisk acid on the finish. Fun and flavoursome. $30. https://www.coriole.com/

Moss Wood 2025 Amy's Cuvée Blanc

 

Here's a classic regional blend of semillon and sauvignon blanc from one of the founding wine producers in Margaret River; albeit with a difference. The Moss Wood 2025 Amy’s Cuvée Blanc is a new addition to the range. It is semillon-driven and barrel fermented to add texture and complexity. That sets its apart from its regional rivals with its palate weight and interest. There are vivacious tropical and herbaceous notes on the palate, savoury elements, oaky hints and impressive balance. One for short-term enjoyment. Pair with blackened fish for a fun food and wine match. $41. https://www.mosswood.com.au/

Mr Riggs 2024 The Magnet Grenache

Grenache, a grape that was once reviled, is having its moment in the sun - and this delightful example from McLaren Vale stalwart Ben Riggs demonstrates its immediate appeal. Many grenache vines were pulled out or bulldozed due to oversupply in the 1980s, but now fruit from surviving older vines is very much in demand. This is a bright and immediately enjoyable grenache that was made made from fruit from 100-year-old dry grown vines at Dogridge Vineyard. The old vines are low yielding, but each bunch provides concentrated flavours. Pair with steak, lamb dishes or hard cheeses to best enjoy the plummy, spicy palate. $30. https://mrriggs.com.au/

Corte Carista 2024 Soave Classico DOC

 

If you like to have a couple of bottles of white wine in the fridge for when friends drop around it is hard to go wrong with the Italian white blend Soave. This wine comes from the hills outside Verona in the north-east of Italy and is an extremely versatile choice for quaffing chilled on its own, or pairing with seafood dishes. This Aldi supermarkets seasonal treat is made largely from the Italian grape variety garganega and is crisp, dry and refreshing. There are citrus/sherbet notes here, brisk minerality and immediate drinkability. What stands out most, though, is the low price. Aldi has it on special for $11.99 - although not for long, I suspect.   

Wirra Wirra 2022 RWS Shiraz

Some McLaren Vale shirazes can be big, brutal drinks; the vinous versions of a rugby front row forward. This very clever composition is, however, somewhere between an agile back rower and a nifty half. Impressively balanced, in other words. It is named in tribute to Robert Strangways Wigley, a noted South Australian eccentric and state cricketer who established Wirra Wirra back in 1894. This is plush and poised as well as possessing power and presence. Think dark berry/currant flavours, spice notes and dark chocolate before a fleshy finish. The 2022 release is from four blocks, three of them biodynamic. It has been matured in French oak barriques (33% new) for 18 months. Drink now with a meaty casserole, or cellar for a decade or more. $80. https://wirrawirra.com/

Taylors 2023 St Andrews Chardonnay

 

The Clare Valley is not where I would immediately look for classy chardonnay, but this one is a very pleasant surprise; delivering a lot of immediate drinking pleasure. It is a very elegant and appealing chardonnay from the upper echelons of the Taylor family's multiple ranges. This is a smooth and sophisticated drop with lots of length and stylish varietal character. Think restrained stone fruit flavours, nutty hints and well-integrated French oak that aids rather than dominating. Along with hints of shortbread and flinty minerality, this is a complete package. Match with roast chicken or a leafy goat cheese salad. $45. https://www.taylorswines.com.au/ 

Standard price

Sutton Grange 2024 Fairbank Rosé

 

The family-owned Sutton Grange winery in Central Victoria has a long-held reputation for producing outstanding rosé wines - and the current release 2024 Fairbank is no exception. The wines are invariably intensely flavoured, dry and well balanced. This vintage has garnered several awards and offers elegance and drinkability without an excessive price tag. It is a blend of syrah, cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese with a dash of viognier that opens up to reveal classic berries and cream notes with a hint of shortbread. There are some creamy textural elements but it finishes savoury and dry with crisp acidity. For a classic wine-and-food match pair this with a Lebanese mezze plate. $35. https://suttongrange.com.au/

Saltram 2023 Mamre Brook Cabernet Sauvignon

  

The Barossa would not normally be my "go to" region for cabernet sauvignon, but this is one out of the box from winemaker Alex Mackenzie and his team. Saltram is a label that dates back to 1859, so there is plenty of history here. The 2023 vintage was a cold and wet one but classic cabernet characters still shine through in a wine that is medium bodied and astutely judged. I like this one a lot with its dark colour, ripe currant and dark cocoa flavours allied to dried leaf and Asian spice notes. It finishes with powdery tannin structure. There is a small amount of shiraz in the mix to add power, and there is certainly a lot of immediate drinking appeal here. $38. www.saltramwines.com.au.     

Ox Hardy 2023 Blewitt Springs Shiraz

 
A very stylish McLaren Vale shiraz from one of the most famous names in the Australian wine business for just $30? There must be some mistake, surely? No. Not a mistake, Just a red wine well worth getting into you. The fruit comes from a vineyard purchased by winemaker Andrew "Ox" Hardy's great-great grandfather Thomas Hardy in the 1870s, although these vines are just 30 years old. It is dark, very plush and gently spicy but its also has a distinctive vibrancy and bright acid thanks to the vineyard's elevation. Ironstone soils add richness to the mix, but that is balanced by minerality. Impressive: a weekend red with a midweek price. Pair with lamb, beef or mushroom dishes for maximum palate pleasure. $30. https://oxhardywines.com.au/

Wickhams Road 2025 Pinot Gris

 

Is this the best-value pinot gris in Australia right now? It would have to be close. Wickhams Road is the second label of the d'Anna family's Hoddles Creek, and makes wines that invariably over deliver when it comes to quality. This is a lively, "drink now" white that offers a lot of food-friendly drinking pleasure, along with some impressive textural elements on the palate. This salmon-coloured new release uses fruit from Bulong Vineyard at Yarra Junction and is made in the same way as its big brother, the also excellent Hoddles Creek Pinot Gris. Very varietal. Enjoy chilled with seafood dishes, or any food with a hint of spice. $20. www.hoddlescreekestate.com.au. 

Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Riserva 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

There are several imported red wines in the ALDI supermarkets collection that offer excellent value; from France, Italy, and this one from Chile. But you’ll need to move snappily as it exits the shelves on October 21. There is a lot of drinking pleasure here for a minimal outlay and you get an impressively cohesive red wine with power and persistence; dark fruits, well-integrated oak and a smooth, savoury finish delivering a complete package for those on a budget. Pair with chilli con carne, or some beef tacos. $14. 

Ekin 2025 Sauvignon Blanc

This is a new-release Adelaide Hills savvy with an eye-catching label that is a good choice for enjoying chilled as the days start to become longer and warmer. It has a similar flavour profile to some of its Kiwi siblings with green tinges on the nose, fresh. tangy topical fruit fruit flavours, and bright, shiny acid on the palate. A wine where it is very easy to enjoy a second glass, and perhaps a third. You could pair this anything from a prawn pizza to a Thai glass noodle salad. It is Vegan friendly, unoaked and made for immediate enjoyment. A fun wine at a very fair price. $25. https://ekinwineco.com.au/  

Zema Estate 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

The Zema family makes a range of wines from Coonawarra that offer excellent drinking. They are bottle aged and only released when the winemaking team consider them at their peak. This is an outstanding example of Coonawarra cabernet; a wine with widespread appeal and from an outstanding vintage. Winemaker Nick Zema, who has completed 44 vintages, says 2021 is one of his top five of all time. Classic aromas of cassis and mint lead on to a concentrated palate with dark fruit to the fore, aided by quality oak. The wines finishes soft and smooth. Drink now - perhaps with some rare roast beef - or cellar for a decade or more. Ridiculously good value for $28. You could pay twice as much for a wine not half as good. https://zema.com.au/

Vickery 2024 Polish Hill River Riesling

 

This is the debut release of the Vickery Polish Hill Riesling from the Clare Valley - and it is a delightfully poised and pure wine. The Vickery range honours the late John Vickery, the "old master" of the grape variety in Australia, who had illustrious career spanning nearly 60 years. Talented Keeda Zilm has made Watervale and Eden Valley rieslings under the Vickery label - using his methods - with Polish Hill now added, utilising fruit from the Paulett family's Trillians Run vineyard. This is very bright and dry, suave and stylish, with perky acid on the finish. Pair with seafood dishes, or Thai or Vietnamese cuisine. We enjoyed with seared tuna. $28. www.vickerywines.com.au

Penfolds 2023 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz

 

When the 2025 Penfolds Collection wines were released earlier this month, the main focus was on the release of a classic 2021 Grange that earned 100 points from some enthusiastic critics. For those not on a Grange budget this is a very worthwhile alternative. Bin 389 is often referred to as ‘Baby Grange’, in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. The blend was first made in 1960 by legendary winemaker Max Schubert. There is plenty of generous flavour here, but also impressive tannin structure. A wine with impressive balance with intriguing layers on the palate. Think richness, dark fruits, supple tannins, and a savoury finish. Grapes from McLaren Vale, Padthaway and the Barossa that spent 12 months in American oak hogsheads (33% new). 96 points from me. You can enjoy this right now (we paired with calves' liver and onions), or cellar for a couple of decades. It has the pedigree. $120. https://www.penfolds.com/

L'Expression Du Rosé 2024

 

Spring is just around the corner so you might want a couple of bottles of this in the fridge. It’s yet another of those ALDI supermarket bargains with typical southern French rosé characteristics of pale freshness, lively acid and zingy minerality. This is crisp, vibrant and very food friendly with raspberry and cranberry notes on the palate. Pair it with salads, Lebanese dishes or picnics. Info is pretty limited on where the fruit was sourced but we know this is a blend of grenache and cinsaut grapes. Impressive value. Serve well chilled. $10.99. https://www.aldi.com.au/

Bremerton 2022 Tamblyn

Meet a serious red wine bargain from Langhorne Creek in South Australia that is ready for immediate enjoyment and is extremely food friendly. The Tamblyn - named after family ancestors from Cornwall - is a blend of 43% cabernet sauvignon, 39% shiraz, 12% malbec and 6% merlot made  by the Willson family. It offers a lot of drinking pleasure for a relative pittance. Soft and stylish with some savoury notes, it is a match for a wide range of dishes. This would be just as happy paired with a barbecue, pizza or pasta dishes as it would with a Sunday roast with all the trimmings. It is a wine that could probably be cellared for a few years - but why bother? $20. https://www.bremerton.com.au/

Grosset 2025 Polish Hill Riesling

 

Get your orders in now. The 2025 vintage of Grosset Polish Hill Riesling maintains its place as Australia's best - and much sought-after - dry riesling. It will be released on September 1 and will probably be sold out soon after. Jeffrey Grosset reports that "pristine fruit culminated in exceptional wines" and I certainly fell in love with the precision and panache of this flagship Clare Valley riesling from a year that Grosset says shows the full benefits of biodynamics in the vineyard. You'll find the classic acid-driven lemon, lime, grapefruit notes, but also some impressive vitality and texture. Pair this will the best fresh crayfish, scallops or prawns you can find and serve simply, so both wine and food shine. Delightfully delicious. 97/100. $85. www.grosset.com.au.      

Turkey Flat 2023 Butchers Block Shiraz

 

Looking for a delicious, drink now, medium-bodied shiraz? This is the ideal midweek Barossa red, designed to be enjoyed in its youth and full of juicy, crunchy, fruity goodness. There's some bold fruit, minerality, some smoothness and a whole lot of drinkability, You could pair this with pizza or pasta, a chilli con carne or a shepherd's pie. Wondering about the name? The Schulz family has been growing grapes since 1865, but they also used to run a butchery business. That blue-stone building is now their cellar door. This is a new release, with a new-look label. $27. https://www.turkeyflat.com.au/

Shaw + Smith 2025 Sauvignon Blanc

It may be released in mid winter each year but this is an Australian classic that offers all the joys of spring. I have seen virtually all of the 36 vintages and this is one of the best; vital with youthful joie de vivre. Cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith first released this wine before the Marlborough savvy boom - and were ahead of the curve as the style became all the rage. The grapes are sourced largely from estate vineyards at Balhannah and Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills and the wine reflects the cool regional climate with its classic fruit profile, zingy unoaked freshness and balanced acid. Drink within two years; and serve well chilled with anything from whitebait to lobster. Deliciously refreshing. $35. https://www.shawandsmith.com.

Tapanappa 2021 Whalebone Vineyard Cabernets Merlot Franc

What a stunning wine this is. It is made from fruit grown on the now 51-year-old Whalebone Vineyard on the Limestone Coast that was identified decades ago by wine industry veteran Brian Croser as "a distinguished site" capable of producing elegant and age-worth reds. It is a classic Bordeaux blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc given an Australian twist with the addition of shiraz. From a "model vintage", this a wine of impressive balance and finesse. French oak barriques (50% new) play key support role in a wine led by cassis flavours and spice that will doubtless age gracefully, but it is already extremely appealing. Only 2,000 cases were made. A steak and kidney casserole proved a wonderful foil. $90. https://tapanappa.com.au/

Chapel Hill 2022 Road Block Shiraz

 

Affordable luxury here from Michael Fragos and his team at Chapel Hill in McLaren Vale, always reliable good purveyors of wines with power and class. One of the new release of icon wines, this is simultaneously an Alpha male red; impressively powerful, and studied and complete. It's a darkly assertive with classic regional dark fruits, deli notes, cedary oak and black pepper jostling for attention on the palate. There is plenty of generosity of flavour here, but also some amiable drinkability. A tempting winter warmer, maybe with a rabbit casserole or fricasee of mushrooms. Impressive. $70. https://www.chapelhillwine.com.au/

Feudo Arancio 2023 Nero d'Avola

 

There are several Australian companies making wines from Nero d'Avola grapes, but this is the real thing from Feudo Arancio (the Orange Grove), a producer of very good-value wines from Sicily. Nero d'Avola is a grape native to Sicily and this one is made from fruit grown close to the Mediterranean. It  smells and tastes of the countryside, with earthy rustic and herbal notes alongside fresh red berry flavours minty hints and a soft finish. Very easy drinking here and this paired well with both lamb shanks and bangers and mash with onion gravy. $20. https://www.singlevineyards.com/

Pike & Joyce 2024 Ceder Riesling

The Pike family has a big reputation for the high-quality wines at makes in the Clare Valley. What is less well known is that since 1998 it has partnered with the Joyce family to also produce wines in the cooler Adelaide Hills. This excellent riesling made from fruit grown at Lenswood is a fine example; slightly more textural than the Clare rieslings but impressively clear, aromatic and fresh with green apple and citrus notes on the palate. Energetic and minerally, it paired beautifully with swordfish steaks in a lemon butter sauce, but the folk at Pike & Joyce recommend enjoying with fresh Coffin Bay oysters. $32. https://pikeandjoyce.com.au/

Soumah 2024 Brachetto Frizzante

 

Soumah vigneron and founder Brett Butcher describes brachetto as "liquid Turkish Delight" and "an adult version of Moscato". It is a wine that shouts out to be chilled and quaffed outdoors - a perfect choice for a warmer day, and with just 10% alcohol. Think wild strawberry and rose water flavours along with a gentle, refreshing sparkle. For those unfamiliar with the grape variety, the brachetto grape variety hails from north-east Italy and dates back to Roman times. It is only grown by a handful of vineyards in Australia, including in Soumah's Yarra Valley home. This is fresh, vibrant and unashamedly sweet, but not too sweet. Such a fun drink. $32. www.soumah.com.au.      

Curly Flat 2023 Chardonnay

 

I am a huge fan of the wines made by Curtly Flat at Lancefield  in the Macedon Ranges - always composed and  excellent value. This is a very stylish cool-climate chardonnay from Jen Kolka and her team with classic citrus on the nose and peach, apricot and mandarin flavours along with a salty tang, minerality and lightly nutty oak notes. One for lovers of White Burgundy who prefer to buy Australian. Think length, impressive purity and depth of flavour and consider pairing with a roast chicken and sage stuffing. I'll give it 94 points. $55. www.curlyflat.com.

Bleasdale 2022 Block 99 Malbec

 

It is widely recognised that the Aldi supermarket chain regularly showcases some of the best-value imported wines to be found in Australia. What is less well known is that Aldi also sells some terrific home-grown wines at absurdly low prices. From the venerable Bleasdale operation in Langhorne Creek, this an excellent example of varietal malbec, often used for blending but also the grape used in the classic French reds of Cahors and most of the stellar Argentine reds from Mendoza. This is an excellent example: Sturdy, but with some interesting chalky minerality. Pair with gourmet sausages. $16. https://www.aldi.com.au/

Moss Wood 2024 Ribbon Vale Chardonnay

 

There are some very impressive chardonnay releases coming out of Margaret River right now - and this is up there with best of them. There is plenty happening on the palate of this single-vineyard release, but it also has a touch of the supermodel about it; shiny without a hair out of place. From a very fine vintage this has seen aging on lees  to add complexity, but it retains all the elements of a classic cooler-climate chardonnay: citrus flavours to the fore. It's full flavoured but effortlessly elegant and decidedly delicious. Pair with pork or poultry dishes. $80. https://www.mosswood.com.au/ 

Bremerton 2022 Selkirk Shiraz

Grapes from Langhorne Creek are a secret weapon for many of Australia's highest-profile wine producers; offering excellent quality without a Barossa or McLaren Vale price tag. Family-owned and female-operated Bremerton is one of the leading producers in the region, and something of a byword for value among those in the know. This a very classy - and slurpable - shiraz that offers a whole of lot of medium-bodied drinking pleasure. The name “Selkirk” relates to a Scottish border town was the ancestral home of the Willson family. Think a lovely soft palate structure with dark berry notes, hints of pepper and restrained oak. You don't have to wait. You can enjoy this one right away. I'd pair it with a steak with mushroom sauce, or some hard cheeses. It's also Vegan friendly, for those who consider such matters. $24. https://www.bremerton.com.au/

Little Giant 2023 McLaren Vale Grenache

 

Small but mighty. You can't miss the Little Giant wines on bottle shop shelves with their distinctive short squat bottles and wombat logo. Some proceeds go to animal charities. The good news is that the range also offers excellent value and is available at major chains and independent retailers nationwide. This McLaren Vale grenache sourced from bush vines is juicy and full flavoured with plenty of dark fruit, mocha notes and well-integrated oak. It has plenty of concentration but finishes with a plush kiss. Pair with a roast lamb en croute, or a democracy sausage in a roll. $22.

Henschke 2024 Innes Vineyard Pinot Gris

 

The Henschke family has been making wine through six generations and for over 150 years; first using fruit from its Eden Valley vineyards and more recently from Adelaide Hills fruit. While best known for its $1000-a-bottle Hill of Grace, Henschke also makes several more affordable wines, like this excellent pinot gris from the Innes Vineyard at Littlehampton, which combines attractive varietal refreshment with some some textural elements that make each sip a vinous voyage of discovery. The wine is unoaked, but six months of lees stirring has added palate interest to the seasonal purity. Lovely stuff! $37.  https://www.henschke.com.au/  

Hay Shed Hill 2024 Block 6 Chardonnay

 

Across the board, Hay Shed Hill makes wines that offer serious value for money. This is a very classy Margaret River chardonnay that could probably be priced higher. Planted 50 years ago, Block 6 has a cool micro climate that has proven ideal for quality chardonnay production. Think mineral and citrus aromatics leading to a pithy palate that is vibrant but also textural, and offers zingy acid energy on the finish. One for Chablis lovers and a perfect partner for roast pork and crackling. $45.https://hayshedhill.com.au/

Mount Horrocks 2023 Nero d'Avola

 

The Nero d'Avola grape may originate from Sicily, but it is very much at home in the warmth of the Clare Valley. Stephanie Toole has been producing wines made from the variety for several years now, having planted in 2007. This is one of the best releases I have seen; an ultra-food friendly, savoury and earthy offering with terrific textural elements and tannin structure that suggests it might cellar for a decade or more. This had the medium-bodied presence to pair impressively with a pan-fried veal schnitzel with red cabbage. Juicy and crunchy with background hints of cedar oak. Organic, biodynamic; a wine of style and substance. $45. https://www.mounthorrocks.com/

Dog Point 2024 Sauvignon Blanc

 

Marlborough sauvignon blanc may not be as fashionable as it once was, but there is still a certain magic to some of the best examples; like this outstanding release from Dog Pont. The winemaking team has managed to capture all the classic Kiwi sauvignon blanc flavours and refreshment, along with some interesting textural elements, perhaps due to an increased percentage of indigenous yeast. It is a white for enjoying in its youth, nicely chilled, accompanied by some fresh oysters or maybe some whitebait, or King George whiting. Dry and deliciously drinkable. $35. http://www.dogpoint.co.nz/

Angove 2022 Family Crest McLaren Vale Shiraz

 

Here's a red of serious weekend drinking quality that's priced like a midweek quaffer. It's well worth seeking out a bottle of two of this if you like your reds flavoursome but graceful and stylish. I was surprised just how easy this was to drink. The flavours are classic McLaren Vale - dark berry and plum notes with hints of moccha and spice. There is a lightness of touch to Tony Ingle's winemaking, however, that makes this a very food-friendly new release. You could pair this with anything from a Sunday roast to a Lebanese mezze plate but I'd probably choose a meaty pizza. And a second bottle. $28. https://www.angove.com.au/

Soumah 2024 Single Vineyard Hexham Savarro

 

Savagnin is a white grape variety best known for being used in the complex Vin Jaune wines of the Jura region in France. Here it has been given a new, less confusing, name, and very different treatment, producing a lively, refreshing "drink now" style. Savarro is the name Yarra Valley-based Soumah gives to cool tank-fermented savagnin, a close relative of traminer. Think aromatics, citrus aromas, intense chalky minerality, leesy hints and brisk acid on the finish. Pair with anything from seafood to a chicken and leek pie. Excellent value at $34. https://soumah.com.au/     

Ox Hardy 2023 McLaren Vale Grenache

 

Grenache is back in a big way baby - thanks largely to modern takes on Australia's traditional fortified workhorse. Andrew "Ox" Hardy's family has generations of experience with the variety in McLaren Vale, where it thrives in the warmth. The fruit for this impressive drop was sourced from three different vineyards, all planted 40-50 years ago. There is a lot of depth of flavour here, but also a deftness to the winemaking with the end result a flavoursome red that is immediately accessible. Hard picked, part whole bunch, unfined, unfiltered and perfect for an autumn barbecue. Soft and floral but with crisp acid on the palate. Good value here for $30. https://oxhardywines.com.au/      

Yangarra 2024 Piquepoul

 

Piquepoul, or piquepoul blanc, sometimes also spelled picpoul, is a quite rare French grape variety that is mainly grown in vineyards adjacent to the Mediterranean and is used to make crisp, "drink young" whites that are often enjoyed with oysters from the local lagoons. This is one of a new, affordable range of wines from organic and biodynamic trendsetters Yangarra in McLaren Vale. Winemaker Pete Fraser says piquepoul thrives in the Mediterranean climate of McLaren Vale. From vines that are just eight years old, this is a fruit driven dry white with impressive minerality and acidity. Enjoy chilled with fresh seafood. $30. https://www.yangarra.com/

Mottura 2023 Classic Primitivo del Salento

 

It is becoming increasingly difficult to source quality wine imports that offer a point of difference along with good value. This primitivo (aka zinfandel) delivers in spades, however, with a real rustic charm that makes it an amiable companion for most Italian dishes; from red meats to hard cheeses. It shines with food. Imported by Single Vineyard Sellers, it is grown and made in Salento in southern Puglia - in Italy's far south - by a family winery with almost a century of history. This is full-bodied with plenty of attitude along with astutely judged assertiveness and lots of length. $35. https://www.singlevineyards.com/

Cullen 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

 

Margaret River icon Cullen Wines is at the vanguard of organic and biodynamic winemaking in Australia, producing some of the country's finest wines at appropriate price points. But Vanya Cullen and her team also produce some outstanding wines that do not cost the earth, this being a prime example. A blend of 85% cabernet and 15% merlot, this is a very stylish wine, mellifluous on the palate and ready to enjoy in its youth. From an excellent, albeit warm, vintage this has plenty of depth of flavour and impressive structure with 20% new French oak playing a support role as the quality fruit plays lead guitar. Elegant wine; excellent drinking. $50. www.cullenwines.com.au. 

Whispering Brook 2024 Arinto

 

Whispering Brook is a small vineyard in the Broke-Fordwich sub-region of the Hunter Valley that has enjoyed success with its take on the Portuguese red grape Touriga Nacional. Now owners Susan Frazier and Adam Bell are aiming to popularise another grape from Portugal - the white variety arinto. I visited their welcoming cellar door last week - just as grapes were coming into the winery - and was very impressed by the 2024 Arinto, a fresh, vibrant style that would seem eminently suited to the Australian lifestyle and our love of Iberian-style foods. Arinto is one of the key varieties in Vinho Verde wines and produces high acid wines with lemon/lime notes. Here it has crisp tropical notes and would pair brilliantly with grilled sardines. $40. https://www.whispering-brook.com/

Denis Race 2022 Chablis

 

When we lived in Paris, almost a quarter of a century ago, we had two "house" Chablis producers; Denis Race and Domaine du Colombier, both of whom we discovered at trade shows and subsequently visited. Domaine du Colombier is hard to find in Australia, but the wines of Denis Race and his family are now imported by Randalls Fine Wines in Melbourne. This Chablis is an excellent example of sleek, minerally Chablis that pairs impressively with seafood and roast pork. A pristine wine with poise and precision, at its current price of $44 a bottle it offers stunning value. I've just ordered some more, so I'm prepared to share the secret. https://randalls.net.au/products/2022-denis-race-chablis-750ml-bottle 

Yalumba Y Series Cuvée NV

 

Yalumba's Y Series range has offered some of the best-value easy drinking wines in Australia for over two decades - and now the choice is expanding with a couple of mid-range wines for those looking for lower-alcohol choices, and this bright and breezy white bubbly; perfect for summer drinking whether you quaff it on its own, use in a spritz, or liven up as a kir or a bellini. Think lively citrus and shortbread notes with a nice crisp finish. Very versatile for $16. This will hit Aussie wine outlets any day now. https://www.smithswinestore.com.au/yseries/

Quartier 2024 Pinot Gris

 

This is a quintessential fun summer white wine from the Gjergia family and winemaker Tim Perrin, who produce some stellar Mornington Peninsula wines under the Kooyong and Port Phillip Estate labels, and some terrific drops for everyday drinking under the Quartier label, which uses grower rather than estate fruit. This new release is a ripper; with tangy freshness and vibrancy perhaps more akin to grigio than gris styles, and a very food friendly personality with citrus and stone fruit flavours front and centre. Very good drinking for $30. https://www.portphillipestate.com.au/our-wines/

$30.  

Stockman's Ridge 2022 "Rider" Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Sampling this blind, my first thought was "this tastes like Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux". And while that may sound like cliché, it is a fair summation. The good news is that, at around $30 retail, it offers claret character without the price tag. It is a lovely, savoury and elegant expression of cool-climate cabernet with green hints but excellent balance. The wine spent a couple of weeks on skins before being matured in older oak barrels, and a dash of cabernet franc was added to the final blend. This is from a cool year in the Orange region of Central Western NSW. It is ripe, but astutely judged. Good value drinking. $30. www.stockmansridge.com.au 

Oliver's Taranga 2024 Falanghina

 

Winemaker Corrina Wright is never afraid to push the boundaries; showcasing several alternative varieties in small-batch releases - including Spanish grape mencia - in the Oliver's Taranga range. This is another newcomer making its debut, crafted from an Italian white grape variety that is difficult to say but easy to drink. Vegan friendly and Sustainable Winegrowing Australia-certified, this McLaren Vale white might well emerge as a serious rival to both fiano and vermentino down the track. Pronounced FAH-lahn-GHEE-nah, and native to the Campania region in southern Italy, this has lively, flavoursome orange/tangerine/peach and melon fruit notes, along with nutty and honeyed hints. It finishes with crisp, clean acidity. Perfect with summer salads. $35.  https://www.oliverstaranga.com/

Logan 2022 Orange Ridge of Tears Shiraz

This is one of a pair of stellar 2022 shirazes from Peter Logan at Logan Wines, one from Mudgee and this one from nearby Orange. It perfectly captures the appeal of cool-climate shiraz, being intensely flavoured without the sometimes intrusive weight and power of warmer-climate siblings. The 2022 growing season was one of the coldest on record in Orange, resulting in lower yields but wines of purity and minerality, and, in this case, red berry fruit allied to pepper and spice aromas and flavours. Medium-bodied, but all the better for that, this is immensely food friendly and disturbingly moreish. $60. https://www.loganwines.com.au/