Angullong 2018 Fossil Hill Tempranillo

Angullong is a family-owned winery from the high-altitude, cool-climate wine region of Orange in the Central West of New South Wales. It has a cellar door in the hamlet of Millthorpe. Some of the best wines from Angullong are made from varieties including the Italian grape sangiovese and this one, using the Spanish grape tempranillo, which is famous for being part of the blend for the savoury wines of Rioja. This is dark and smoky with some delicatessen aromas and herbal, smoky flavours on the palate. Sultry and mysterious. Pair with a cheese and charcuterie platter. $28. www.angullong.com.au

Oliver's Taranga 2020 Vermentino

Vermentino is a grape primarily found in Sardinia and Corsica, but is making itself very much at home in warm Australian wine regions, where it produces crisp and fresh dry wines. This was one of three impressive 2020 new releases from sixth-generation winemaker Corinna Wright at Oliver's Taranga in McLaren Vale. The other duo were a delightful fiano and a feisty mencia rosé but this was my favourite by a short half head. It is unoaked, fruity, zippy and zesty and a perfect partner for seafood dishes. Damn good value, too. And very refreshing. $25. www.oliverstaranga.com.