Any price
Patronus 'The Doe' South Australian Rose
Dandelion Vineyards Twilight of the Adelaide Hills Chardonnay
Bleasdale Bremerview Langhorne Creek Shiraz
Bleasdale is “one of the most historic wineries in Australia... in 2015 celebrating 165 years of continuous winemaking by the direct descendants of the founding Potts family.” (Halliday). Among many major awards, they’ve won the Jimmy Watson Trophy and they recently made the 2023 Shortlist for the Halliday Wine Companion's Best Value Winery. Winemaker Paul Hotker, a “master blender”, was named Halliday’s Winemaker of the Year 2018. This fine red is another example of why Langhorne Creek Shiraz is regarded by many as delivering Australia’s best-value reds, vintage after vintage. Intense aromas of blackberries, plums and Asian spice. Juicy dark fruits define the medium-to-full palate, with clove and liquorice notes dancing up back. Soft tannins.
Peter Lehmann 'Pastor's Son' Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon
Peter Lehmann was known as the ‘Baron of the Barossa’, was a member of the Order of Australia, was called “a legend in his own lifetime” (Halliday) and “the most famous man in the Australian wine business” (Matthew Jukes). Barossa Cabernet is lavishly dark and mouthfilling ... as you’ll see when you taste this luscious Gold-winning example. Classic, inky black colour with generous lashings of rich dark blackcurrant, forest fruits, chocolate with eucalypt mint and spice undertones.
Moulin de Pontfract Rosé
Provence is synonymous with film star glitterati, sunshine and delicate hued rosés many regard as the best in the world. Although the region has become one of the pricier tourist corners of France, wines like this help us all to enjoy the Côte d’Azur lifestyle from home! It comes from a 17th century estate, just outside the town of Correns, owned by the dapper Monsieur Paul. He has an ideal spot for his vines – an amphitheatre shaped plot, where the chalky stone soils are bathed in sunshine all summer long. Using equal parts of Grenache and Cinsault, gently pressed to extract only a delicate colour, this is a charming rosé – fresh and fruity with delightful, strawberry scented aromas. Enjoy on its own, with olive tapenade or fresh seafood.
Mountadam Vineyards High Eden 'The Red' Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz
Usually Mountadama's 'The Red' is a Cab Merlot blend, but in 2018 the switch was made from Merlot to Shiraz as the secondary varietal component. "At this level of ripeness and generosity, the switch from merlot to shiraz is surprising, bolstering mid-palate density. The integrity of this cool site triumphs in the end, with crunchy blackcurrant fruit, fine-grained tannins and gentle acidity holding impressive line and length.” Tyson Stelzer, The Halliday Wine Companion. Sam Kim is a fan too, calling it "Wonderfully ripe and enticing..." 94pts.
Peter Lehmann Margaret Barossa Valley Semillon
This beautifully mature 2017, has a Top Gold, 7 Golds and 96pts from Halliday. "Peter Lehmann's Margaret Semillon provides complex drinking and a length of flavour that many producers aspire to. It's a regional classic, and rightly so", as Dave Brooks writes in The Halliday Wine Companion, "All lemon butter spread on freshly toasted brioche with hints of soft spice, marzipan, wildflowers, crushed stone and drying fields. Dry, savoury, long and compelling. Some crustaceans and some of this and you are in a very good place. 96pts. Great Value.”
Patronus Barossa Valley Shiraz
Meet Patronus - a luxuriously decadent and intense Barossa Shiraz made the old-fashioned way. Intense lifted spicy characters drape across the gently baked plum, and raspberry compote aromas, with gentle wafts of cedar and smoked game.
El Campeador
Willow Bridge 'Dragonfly' Geographe Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
The making of Dragonfly Sauvignon Blanc Semillon centres on capturing the fresh and alluring tropical and seasonal fruit flavours from the region. A minute portion is fermented in French oak barriques to add a layer of intrigue to the wine. Enticing aromatics of passionfruit, tropical notes, kiwi fruit and lime zest. The palate is crisp and refreshing, having a depth of flavour, tropical spectrum, and a long fine finish.