Moss Wood Ribbon Vale 2023 Merlot

Many merlots in Australia are made in a soft and simple style; as easy quaffers. Not so his one from the cabernet masters at Moss Wood in Margaret River. It is full of verve and texturally complex, a nod to the great merlot-led wines of Bordeaux's right bank. More structured than fleshy, this one is firm and impressively complex with some bright acidity allied to serious tannins, aided and abetted by time in French barriques.  We paired this with roast lamb en croute and were well rewarded. $87. https://www.mosswood.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

Chapel Hill 2022 Road Block Shiraz

 

Affordable luxury here from Michael Fragos and his team at Chapel Hill in McLaren Vale, always reliable good purveyors of wines with power and class. One of the new release of icon wines, this is simultaneously an Alpha male red; impressively powerful, and studied and complete. It's a darkly assertive with classic regional dark fruits, deli notes, cedary oak and black pepper jostling for attention on the palate. There is plenty of generosity of flavour here, but also some amiable drinkability. A tempting winter warmer, maybe with a rabbit casserole or fricasee of mushrooms. Impressive. $70. https://www.chapelhillwine.com.au/