Bishop by Ben Glaetzer 2023

Ben Glaetzer makes several top-notch red wines that reward long-term cellaring, including the Amon-Ra and Anaperenna. This is similarly well crafted shiraz but offers more immediate drinking pleasure with its classic Barossa combo of power and elegance. From a dry, sunny but late vintage, this offers a lot of length and style for a very fair price. It spent 16 months in mainly older French hogshead barrels for structure but finishes beguilingly soft on the palate. The wine is named in honour of Ben's mother Judith [Bishop] - who has the unique distinction of having two wines named after her by her sons. The other is the Glaetzer-Dixon La Judith. This one offers very good buying for $40. www.glaetzer.com. 

Turkey Flat 2025 Rosé

 

Thoroughly modern, thoroughly delicious and perfect for enjoying over the summer holidays. Floral, fresh and feisty with summer berry, stone fruit and crisp apple flavours, this would pair brilliantly with everything from ham and turkey cold cuts to a beach picnic. It is made from grenache grown in the Barossa Valley and is best enjoyed served well chilled while still youthful and vibrant. Very well priced, too, at $27. https://www.turkeyflat.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.     

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/