Taylors 2023 St Andrews Chardonnay

 

The Clare Valley is not where I would immediately look for classy chardonnay, but this one is a very pleasant surprise; delivering a lot of immediate drinking pleasure. It is a very elegant and appealing chardonnay from the upper echelons of the Taylor family's multiple ranges. This is a smooth and sophisticated drop with lots of length and stylish varietal character. Think restrained stone fruit flavours, nutty hints and well-integrated French oak that aids rather than dominating. Along with hints of shortbread and flinty minerality, this is a complete package. Match with roast chicken or a leafy goat cheese salad. $45. https://www.taylorswines.com.au/ 

Standard price

Sutton Grange 2024 Fairbank Rosé

 

The family-owned Sutton Grange winery in Central Victoria has a long-held reputation for producing outstanding rosé wines - and the current release 2024 Fairbank is no exception. The wines are invariably intensely flavoured, dry and well balanced. This vintage has garnered several awards and offers elegance and drinkability without an excessive price tag. It is a blend of syrah, cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese with a dash of viognier that opens up to reveal classic berries and cream notes with a hint of shortbread. There are some creamy textural elements but it finishes savoury and dry with crisp acidity. For a classic wine-and-food match pair this with a Lebanese mezze plate. $35. https://suttongrange.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.     

Ox Hardy 2023 Blewitt Springs Shiraz

 
A very stylish McLaren Vale shiraz from one of the most famous names in the Australian wine business for just $30? There must be some mistake, surely? No. Not a mistake, Just a red wine well worth getting into you. The fruit comes from a vineyard purchased by winemaker Andrew "Ox" Hardy's great-great grandfather Thomas Hardy in the 1870s, although these vines are just 30 years old. It is dark, very plush and gently spicy but its also has a distinctive vibrancy and bright acid thanks to the vineyard's elevation. Ironstone soils add richness to the mix, but that is balanced by minerality. Impressive: a weekend red with a midweek price. Pair with lamb, beef or mushroom dishes for maximum palate pleasure. $30. https://oxhardywines.com.au/

Wickhams Road 2025 Pinot Gris

 

Is this the best-value pinot gris in Australia right now? It would have to be close. Wickhams Road is the second label of the d'Anna family's Hoddles Creek, and makes wines that invariably over deliver when it comes to quality. This is a lively, "drink now" white that offers a lot of food-friendly drinking pleasure, along with some impressive textural elements on the palate. This salmon-coloured new release uses fruit from Bulong Vineyard at Yarra Junction and is made in the same way as its big brother, the also excellent Hoddles Creek Pinot Gris. Very varietal. Enjoy chilled with seafood dishes, or any food with a hint of spice. $20. www.hoddlescreekestate.com.au. 

Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Riserva 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

There are several imported red wines in the ALDI supermarkets collection that offer excellent value; from France, Italy, and this one from Chile. But you’ll need to move snappily as it exits the shelves on October 21. There is a lot of drinking pleasure here for a minimal outlay and you get an impressively cohesive red wine with power and persistence; dark fruits, well-integrated oak and a smooth, savoury finish delivering a complete package for those on a budget. Pair with chilli con carne, or some beef tacos. $14. 

Ekin 2025 Sauvignon Blanc

This is a new-release Adelaide Hills savvy with an eye-catching label that is a good choice for enjoying chilled as the days start to become longer and warmer. It has a similar flavour profile to some of its Kiwi siblings with green tinges on the nose, fresh. tangy topical fruit fruit flavours, and bright, shiny acid on the palate. A wine where it is very easy to enjoy a second glass, and perhaps a third. You could pair this anything from a prawn pizza to a Thai glass noodle salad. It is Vegan friendly, unoaked and made for immediate enjoyment. A fun wine at a very fair price. $25. https://ekinwineco.com.au/