Who would have imagined that Canberra could pull elegantly appealing cabernet out of its sub-$15 bag of tricks? A vibrant wine of rose petal and violet perfume, crunchy redcurrant and red cherry fruits and fine, supple tannins. A portion of barrel maturation provides subtle oak support.

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It’s refreshing to find ripeness harmonised with medium-bodied restraint at this price. An approachable and attractively fruit-focused shiraz of black plum, blackberry and cracked pepper flavours, supported by supple, finely textured tannins.

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Not since 2007 has Swan Bay exemplified such varietal integrity – and the list price has dropped by $4 over that time! This is a ripe pinot noir of wild strawberry and mixed berry compote flavours which persist through a finish of soft, supply, drying tannins and warm alcohol (a ripe 14.5%). An elegant finish […]

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This is outstanding value in a refined and beautifully textural style that carries considerable fruit concentration and more elegant balance even than Scotchmans Hill $65 flagship syrah! A stylish and complex shiraz of black plum and blackberry fruit, black pepper and subtle nuances of charcuterie complexity. Tannins are beautifully fine and textural, providing a fine-grained […]

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Introducing the cheapest wine ever to meet the lofty standards of Wine Taste Weekly. This softly approachable and easy drinking quaffer unites the juicy berry fruits of the Riverland with the elegant touch of pink pepper of the cool 2011 vintage, making for a pretty and fruit-focused expression of an estate vineyard originally established by […]

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This must be the most widely available and perpetually discounted Mornington chardonnay, but don’t for a moment mistake this for bulk-produced simplicity. Predominantly French oak barrique fermented and matured for nine months, with the remainder in tank to preserve the freshness of concentrated fruit with pretty lemon zest, grapefruit and white peach notes, hints of […]

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This is a small price to pay for a Mornington Peninsula chardonnay of such fruit integrity of spicy grapefruit, fig and anise, lifted by a bouquet of pretty lemon blossom and mixed spice. A wine of balance and poise drawn out by a long finish of focused fruit definition and perfectly gauged mineral acidity. The […]

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At eleven years of age, Portsea’s chardonnay vines are starting to establish themselves in the limestone soils of the tip of the Mornington Peninsula, producing a wine of poised concentration, with pretty purity of lemon blossom, white peach, lemon zest and lingering fresh fig notes. Subtle oak tucks in neatly behind focused fruit and balanced […]

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This is a wine in which structure leads confidently ahead of fruit, with a multilayered mouthfeel, fine minerality and a taut cut of acidity, infused by the cool, long ripening season of 2011 and reinforced with the texture-focused approach of wild yeast fermentation in old barriques. An intriguing, understated and savoury style speaks of subtle […]

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In a massive flight of Mornington chardonnay in ascending order of price, this was the first wine to truly inspire me, as much by what it isn’t as what it is. Verve is one of the Peninsula’s most restrained wines, showing a delicacy and focused drive that lift it to another level. Sensational finesse of […]

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