The 10 wines on this list are all winners and serious bargains. The St COSME COTES DU RHONE 2016 is the pick of them for me – a phenomenal Shiraz at a ridiculous price.
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WHITE WINES
Hidden Label Nagambie Lakes Marsanne 2016 – $6 at Kemenys. Buy 6 at $12 each and get another 6 more for free. My guess for the source of this wine is Mitchelton. What a bargain at this price! Marsanne is a hard sell because it’s not a trendy variety. That’s lucky for us, because it’s a lovely wine – check my review at the link. 92 points. Absolute steal.
Jim Barry Watervale Riesling 2018 – $13 at 1st Choice. Ripe limes and bath powder, fruit-forward and drinking well already, richer and softer than usual but will improve with time. Riesling is another hard sell, and this is up there with the best year after year. Gold medals in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, trophy for best Riesling in Brisbane. 93+ points.
Hidden Label Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2018 – $13 at Kemenys. I suspect Sidewood is hiding behind this label which covers one of the Hills’ best savvies. Close to perfect balance between savoury elements and tropical fruits here, and good line and length. Polished. Too easy to drink. 94 points.
Fat Bastard Chardonnay 2015 – $14 at Nicks. Rich, round Chardonnay from California, not all that fat but it works some peaches and cream into the mix along with a decnet whack of oak. All the elements have come together to make a seamless food wine at a great price. The 2016 is appearing on retailers’ shelves; I haven’t tasted it yet but it will be similar – $13 at Summer Hill Wine. 94points.
La Chablisienne Petit Chablis 2017 – $16 at 1st Choice. From a well-established co-op comes a lovely little Chardonnay. Not a lot of wet stones and salty minerals here, but more red apples and delicate peaches. Is it a warm vintage or global warming? Never mind, it’s delicate and charming and makes a nice change in style from our Chardonnays. Great drinking now and terrific value. 93 points.
RED WINES
Devils Ridge Block 8 Barossa Valley Shiraz 2017 – $10 at Kemenys. It has the easy charm of a young man from a good family. Hewitson in this case. You sniff and sip and swallow, and you shake your head: this wine runs rings around Barossa Shiraz of twice the price and more. Terrific fruit here, but it’s not a fruit bomb. It’s medium-bodied and seductive, a gorgeous Shiraz at a knock-out price. 93 points.
Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône 2016 – $13 at 1st Choice. The best of this line I can remember, bigger and richer than usual, and more complex. It’s mostly Shiraz from Gigondas, and offers intense dark fruits and dried herbs plus a twist of Rhône dust. It opened up and softened over 3 days in the open bottle, a sure sign that it will get even better. You could pay twice and struggle to find a Rhône red this good. 95+ points.
Hidden Label Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 – $15 at Kemenys. It’s Leconfield Cabernet hiding under the plain wrapper, and it’s a beauty: rich, ripe and stacked with dark berries as always, but more seductive than usual. It was hard to keep my hands off this red a couple of days after opening. Halliday says leave it alone for a few years, but I see no reason to do that. Enormous value. 95+ points.
DESSERT WINES
Buller Premium Fine Muscat 375mL – $9.50 at Dan M’s. A great little Rutherglen Muscat from a long established winery, at a bargain basement price. Winter is only a few months away. 93 points.
De Bortoli `Deen Vat 5` Botrytis Semillon 2016 – $11 at Graysonline in a 6-pack, or at vinomofo in a dozen. Super luscious sticky, teaming with marmalade, orange peel, honey and ripe apricots; would’ve been perfect with a tad more acid but an absolute knockout at this price. Enjoy sooner rather than later. 96 points.
