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1. Best Whites
Castelli Estate Riesling 2013 – $22 at Winestreet. This came tops in Gourmet Traveller Wine’s Riesling shootout late last year. From the Great Southern in W.A.
Stefano Lubiano Riesling 2012 – $24 at Trio Wine. Riesling with more texture and complexity than usual. 12% of the fruit gets barrel fermentation, lees stirring and oak maturation. Virtually handmade.
Best’s Great Western Riesling 2012 – $23, Kemenys. Great year in Great Western, and they made a great Riesling, bigger and more forward than usual (13%)
2. Best Reds
Port Phillip Quartier Pinot Noir 2013 – $22 at North Sydney Cellars. Handmade from individual vineyards by Sandro Mosele at Kooyong, and neither fined nor filtered.
Mud House Central Otago Pinot Noir 2012 – $22 at Kemenys. Straightforward Pinot with plenty of obvious appeal, good colour, solid flavour, not the most complex but hard to resist.
Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir 2012 – $26 at MyCellars. From a great boutique in the Great Southern in WA – great winery, great year.
3. Best Sparkling
Bay of Fires Tasmanian Cuvee Brut Non Vintage – $24 at McGuires in a 6-pack. This classy bubbly is usually over $25. Made by Ed Carr at the much fancied House of Arras.
Nautilus Methode Traditionnelle Brut – $25 at MyCellars. Great Kiwi sparkler. Champion wine of show (Air New Zealand 2013) and 97 points from Bob Campbell.
Pelorus NV – $25 at Winestar. We had another bottle of this over Christmas, and it stood head and shoulders above sparklers twice the price, French and Aussie. Bargain.
4. Best Dessert Wines
Heggies Botrytis Riesling 2011 375ml – $22, Kemenys. Not cheap but said to be a great sticky. A change from the old Noble One.
2007 Chateau Fayau Cadillac 375ml – $25 at Nicks. Bargain sticky from the cheaper side of the river in Bordeaux, opposite Sauternes.
Seppeltsfield DP 63 Solero Grand Muscat 500ml – $27 at Kemenys. It’s a bit more, but worth it – superb Muscat, 6 trophies, 27 golds
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