Gundog Estate 2025 The Chase Semillon

Gundog Estate winemaker Matt Burton has access to quality fruit from the Hunter Valley, the Canberra region and the Hilltops and his wines are always reliable, while offering good value. I loved a recent 2025 Canberra riesling, now apparently sold out, as well as this quality Hunter Valley semillon, a perfect refresher for the tail end of summer. The Chase is produced from grapes grown on old vines in central Pokolbin. It is a semillon that's full of youth vitality - ideal for pairing with fresh oysters, or maybe some spicy Thai fishcakes. Tank-matured and released young, this offers apple and citrus notes, bright natural acid and the option to cellar, should you wish to do so. $35. https://gundogestate.com.au/

Feudo Arancio 2023 Nero d'Avola

 

Feudo Arancio, which means Orange Grove in Italian, is wine label imported by Single Vineyard Sellers that is known for offering excellent drinking from Sicily at very reasonable prices. This is a lovely take on the indigenous Nero d'Avola grape with a tidy balance between dark fruit and more earthy/savoury notes. There is plenty of weight and flavour here for a budget buy, but also some quiet Sicilian swagger. You could pair this with pasta and ragu, or roast lamb cutlets, or take it to your local Italian BYO. Value and versatility. $22.  https://www.feudoarancio.it/en-gb

Soumah 2025 Nebbiolo Bianco

 

Artisan Yarra Valley producer Soumah is a reliably excellent producer of Italian-accented wines, with this summer refresher a prime example. The name is a bit of a misnomer - there is no grape with the official name of Nebbiolo Bianco; it is a nickname for the arneis grape, which is credited on the back label. Arneis is often grown alongside prized red grapes in Piedmont to attract the birds, hence the name. Crisp and lively and designed for enjoying chilled, this would be perfect for pairing with grilled sardines, or a plate of fritto misto. Intense citrus and stone fruit flavours and bright acid are key elements here. $35. https://soumah.com.au/  

Hay Shed Hill 2023 Block 2 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

An outstanding example of Margaret River cabernet that has settled nicely with some time in bottle. Hay Shed Hill is a reliably good producer and Block 2 was planted over 50 years ago, producing fruit with intensity and elegance. This is a wine that will certainly find favour with lovers of Left Bank Bordeaux. Deeply coloured, this has classic dark fruit flavours with dusty hints. The oak is well integrated and the tannins finish with rewarding softness. You could cellar this, but it it is already enticing. We paired it with rare roast lamb - a most amiable combo. $63. https://hayshedhill.com.au/ 

Mr Riggs 2025 Generation Series Mrs Riggs Pinot Gris

 

I tend to associate experienced McLaren Vale winemaker Ben Riggs with red wines, but this excellent pinot gris made from Adelaide Hills fruit proves he is also a dab hand with whites. This is actually more grigio than gris in style, with some fresh florals leading on to bright, white stone fruit flavours and some brisk, food-friendly acid. Riggs has not been a fan of the variety in the past but was impressed by the quality of the fruit from a Woodside vineyard. I'm not a massive pg fan either, but this offers terrific summer drinking and excellent value. $24. https://mrriggs.com.au/

Keyneton Ridge 2024 Reserve Pinot Noir

Kyneton Ridge is a label worth keeping an eye on, The Kyneton Ridge vineyard and winery is situated in the Macedon Ranges, around an north-west of Melbourne and home to several excellent producers. This is a very varietal pinot noir from family winemaker Patrick Wood with a nice balance between youthful juicy fruit flavours and more savoury characters. It is very much a small-batch production, with just 200 cases made from fruit grown on the estate vineyard. The 12 months its has spent in quality French oak adds some impressive texture to the vibrant fruit and earthy/undergrowth notes. This would be good with Chinese roast duck. $50. https://kynetonridge.com.au/

Tapanappa 2025 Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay

Made by veteran wine industry guru Brian Croser from fruit grown in a 40+-years-old vineyard in the Adelaide Hills, this is a chardonnay that neatly straddles power and precision. From a warm, dry year, the grapes were picked earlier than ever before but the fruit miraculously retained high acid levels. The end result is a riper, richer iteration of this wine with intense stone-fruit flavours to the fore, but smart winemaking has resulted in brightness and texture with finishing acid that offers immediate drinking pleasure. Pair this with a roast pork and crackling. Superb! $60. www.tapanappa.com.au       

Coriole 2022 Lloyd Reserve Shiraz

What a striking wine this is, full of intensity, complexity and potential. Using fruit from some of the oldest vines in McLaren Vale - over 100 years old - this is named in honour of Hugh Lloyd, who founded Coriole in 1967. It is a wine that would grace any dinner party, or a special occasion paired with rich, red meat dishes. There is a lot happening on the palate, but it all coalesces beautifully; dark fruit, impressive oak, spice notes, depth, length and lovely tannin structure. You can enjoy this now, but my gut suggests cellaring will pay dividends. It is big and assertive right now; a heavyweight that will develop into a slick middleweight. $120. coriole.com

Pig In The House 2025 Picpoul Blanc

 

Piquepoul, also known as Picpoul, or Picapoll, is a white grape that is seen at its best in the southern Languedoc region of Mediterranean France, where it is enjoyed with fresh local oysters. It is known for its fresh and bright acid and was only planted in Australia in the 2010s. This impressive version comes from the O'Dea family from Windowrie in the Central Western Ranges of NSW, and is distributed by Single Vineyard Sellers. It is unoaked, showcasing first-run juice, grown and made organically, and designed to be enjoyed chilled it its youth. Such a fun summer wine with its pear, apple and lime zest characters. Pair with a seafood platter, or some fish fingers. $25.  https://www.windowrie.com.au/collections/pig-in-the-house

Longview 2023 Yakka Shiraz

Sometimes a wine comes as a nice surprise. You have a sip; then another sip. not thinking too much about it it. Then you notice the bottle has suffered from an evaporation issue. This is just such a wine. It's not flashy, it's just a darn good drink. Well priced, too. From Macclesfield on the edge of the Adelaide Hills, made from fruit grown on a proven vineyard that gets plenty of sun. The end result is a mix of berry and dark plum flavours, subtle hints of herbs and oak with a palate that finishes soft, long and smooth with just hint of spice/earthiness to elevate the experience. Lovely stuff. Ideal midweek drinking. $32.  https://www.longviewvineyard.com.au/