Drayton’s vineyard is grand cru Hunter turf (think Brokenwood ILR and First Creek Semillon). Hart & Hunter may be brand new, but with the pedigree of this vineyard it’s instantly arisen to semillon stardom. The minerality of the site sings with full voice, holding incredible freshness and purity.

read

Barrel fermented sauvignon is eliciting more exclamations of delighted astonishment than any other style in my wine courses this year. Mark Messenger (Juniper Estate) is a Margaret River quiet achiever who’s crafted this wine with impeccable restraint and texture instead of varietal pungency.

read

Prunotto brings northern Italy to the masses, landing you securely in Piedmont without setting you back a first class airfare! Black cherries, anise and mixed spice finish vibrant and fresh with lively acidity and – crucially – softly textured tannins that beckon you right in. Buongiorno!

read

Is this the best bargain chardonnay in the world? Complexity and sophistication are off the scale! The glittering minerality of Adelaide Hills, weaving with flint, roast nuts and white peach, makes Thomas every bit a baby Reserve Bin A. A 95 point wine for $15 at Kemeny’s & Dan Murphy’s. Goodness!

read

I could tell you which super-premium, 842m altitude vineyard this fruit comes from, but I’d have to kill you! You be the Armchair Critic and figure it out for yourself (recent editions of Wine Taste contain clues). Rarely does such finesse, minerality, elegance and restraint materialise under $20.

read

Wine Taste is a no snobbery zone. Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Cabernet was the first dozen I ever purchased and it only got better with a few years under my bed! I’ll keep recommending this soft, berry, 3 year old BBQ quaffer, especially when it comes up under $6. This week it’s $7.60 at Dan’s, $10 […]

read

Deceptively sedate, elegant, fine, ethereal and mineral. When prodded with main course concentration, it arises to meet it like a gentle and powerful winged creature, revealing flashes of summer fruits and roast nuts under its wings. In one grand swoop it answers the debate of whether the searing backbone and monumental power of 1996 will […]

read

With the elegance, acid backbone and energy of the 2009 Hunter season on full display, this is one Graveyard that you should leave undisturbed for many years yet. Excellent fine-boned poise and stature, wonderfully fine-grained tannin texture, exotically lifted floral complexity, tremendous line and length, unashamedly restrained. $115 at Kemeny’s.

read

1999 is maturing slower and more assuredly than any other Vat 1 to hit the re-release queue in years. It’s still a youthful green hue, disclosing nuances of lime, pepper, spice and peppermint. Pure, driven and seamless. Cross your fingers for a good cork. $75 at Dan Murphy’s.

read

In years to come we’ll debate which was the winner of ‘08 and ‘09 Margaret River. The true winner: anyone who lined their cellar with either! Leston in ‘09 is textbook MRCS: capsicum, tobacco leaf, red- and blackcurrants, tomato leaf, sage, cedar and finely ground, dusty tannins. $33 at Dan’s.

read