Under $20
Deen De Bortoli Vat 2 Sauvignon Blanc 2013 $10-$13
Score 85 Value Good
Agreeable sauvignon blanc made in the Riverina from De Bortoli's vast vineyard resources. Citrus, herbaceous and light tropical fruit characters; a juicy, fruity palate. Ripe, light and easy with a pleasant tang at the end. (Screw cap; 12.5 per cent alcohol.)
Ageing? No.
Food ideas Simple shellfish dishes.
Stockists include Nillumbik Cellars, Diamond Creek (Vic); Darlinghurst Cellars (NSW).
Mount Avoca Moates Lane Shiraz 2012 $10-$12
Score 87 Value Fantastic
Smartly labelled, value shiraz from Victoria's Pyrenees. Fresh berry and spice aromas have some earthy complexity, followed by a finely textured, ripe palate of gentle drinkability and sustained, honest flavour. (Screw cap; 13.5 per cent alcohol.)
Ageing? No need.
Food idea Buffalo mozzarella and caramelised onion pizza.
Stockists include Leo's, Heidelberg and Kew (Vic.); Mount Avoca Cellar Door at mountavoca.com
$20-$35
West Cape Howe Styx Gully Chardonnay 2013 $28-$30
Score 93 Value Good
A smooth young Mount Barker (WA) chardonnay with finely tuned citrus and melon fruit, subtly complex notes of butterscotch and almond. Subtly oaked, it's mouth-filling and rich, finishing with an attractive tang. (Screw cap; 13 per cent alcohol.)
Ageing? Drink over four years.
Food idea Poached marron or yabbies with lemon butter sauce.
Stockists include Just released. Ask at your local wine shop.
Ninth Island Tasmania Pinot Noir 2013 $20-$23
Score 93 Value Fantastic
Ninth Island is usually an early drinking "pretty" type of Tassie pinot, but the 2013 is more serious. Floral aromas, dark cherry and sappy earthy notes meet the nose, and it tastes clean and inviting, with nicely layered tannins and good depth. (Screw cap; 13.5 per cent alcohol.)
Ageing? Drink over four years.
Food idea Grilled duck breast with blood orange.
Stockists include McCoppins, Fitzroy (Vic.); Camperdown Cellars, Darlinghurst (NSW).
Indulge yourself
Escarpment Te Rehua Martinborough Pinot Noir 2012 $66-$69
Score 96 Value Good
Great New Zealand pinot noir from Martinborough. Full bodied and tightly structured, it opens with complex dark cherry, marzipan, forest, spice, leather and mocha aromas. The palate is well concentrated, long and dry finishing. (Screw cap; 13 per cent alcohol.)
Ageing? Drink over 10 years.
Food idea Beef fillet chasseur.
Stockists include Armadale Cellars (Vic.); Sixty Darling Street Fine Wine, Balmain East (NSW).
Penfolds Magill Estate 2012 $130
Score 96 Value Good
This lovely perfumed shiraz combines suggestions of exotic spice, forest fruits and beautifully integrated oak in perfect harmony. Beguiling, pure and fine, it has outstanding length, finesse and presence. Superb. (Screw cap; 14.5 per cent alcohol.)
Ageing? Yes, three to 15 years plus.
Food ideas Roast beef and Yorkshire puddings.
Stockists include Contact Penfolds Magill Cellar Door at penfolds.com or on 08 8301 5400
Wine of the week
Seppelt St Peters Shiraz 2012 $75-$80
Score 96 Value Good
Seppelt Great Western Shiraz has a long, impressive heritage and this 2012 is a great example. The nose has raspberry, plum, gentle spice and chocolatey notes, with a suggestion of the granite earth of the region. It's a traditional regional style at its best, with a velvety, medium weight palate, fine tannins and a long finish. (Screw cap; 14.6 per cent alcohol.)
Ageing? Yes, two to 15 years plus.
Food ideas Pot-roasted kid or lamb.
Stockists include Prince Wine Store, South Melbourne (Vic.); Wassail Cellars, St Ives (NSW).
Brew
Monteith's Black Beer $3.50-$4.50 330ml
Score 92
Monteith's Black from New Zealand isn't quite stout, nor is it sweet like some dark beer. Its very dark colour has reddy brown highlights, and the strong burnt malt nose leads to a smoky, rich mouthful with caramel and mocha-like flavours, dry, fine bitterness at the end. (5.2 per cent alcohol.)
Stockists include Dan Murphy's stores.
Something different
Pernod $40-$45 700ml
Aniseed and licorice drinks are part of most Mediterranean cultures, and French pastis is a classic example. Normally served in southern France as a milky-looking aperitif with ice and water, it's hauntingly evocative of warm Provencale evenings. (40 per cent alcohol.)
Stockists include Vintage Cellars stores; Dan Murphy's stores.