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/