Les Dauphins 2024 Cotes du Rhone Reserve

 

There's a bargain sliver of the French summer in this juicy/spicy Cotes du Rhone made from grapes grown on the southern French hillsides. Think a warm day on a Provencal terrace with some local rillettes, a baguette, and maybe a salad Nicoise. That's the vibe from this savoury grenache/shiraz blend imported by Single Vineyard Sellers. It's very easy to drink with dark fruit flavours to the fore, some Asian spice market notes and a smooth, supple finish. An excellent option for when you want to try something a little bit different. $20.  

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

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/