Pascal Agrapart’s precision and attention to detail is proclaimed from his very first cuvée, a blend of seven champagne villages. This is an accurate and incisive citrus-charged style of textural presence and great persistence. Delightful grapefruit spice and lemon zest are accented with hints of clove, a soft, creamy bead, and excellent chalk mineral character. […]

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Hervé Savès calls Bouzy ‘the Chambertin of Champagne’, and to temper its strength and dominance he adds a touch of chardonnay to this blend. I loved the 2006 base last year, and I love the 2008 even more; a sensational season that charges this intense, pinot-focused blend with scintillating energy and electric acidity. A gorgeous […]

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After the fanatical Gilles Dumangin changed contracts to improve fruit sources, the 2009 base is as refreshing and pure as I have ever seen his Brut 17. A beautifully refined apéritif champagne that captures the red-fruits freshness and crunchy red apples of pinot meunier and pinot noir, with a gentle, lingering refinement, a subtle rose […]

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The banks of the North Para River at Light Pass have been home to the Scholz family since 1845 and their family vineyard is the source of one of the best value rieslings on the Barossa floor. If rapier sharp riesling is not your vibe, the rounded generosity and immediate appeal of 2013 is just […]

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The fragrant delicacy of cool climate pinot noir makes for some of the most enticing rosés, and this one is especially engaging, friendly, elegant and gorgeous. Pristine rose petals, pomegranate and strawberry hull are all present in this delightfully refreshing, impeccably ripe and crunchy style, accented with softly mineral texture and taut acidity.

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Accurate, enticing and varietal, nebbiolo brings notes of liquorice to the lovely ripe guava and watermelon core of this fresh, textural and almost dry rosé. It finishes with lingering mouth feel and fresh elegance. $18 at Cracka (2012).

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Crunchy, spicy and fleshy all at once, this friendly and versatile blend is built on pinot gris and accompanied by riesling and a dribble of gewurztraminer and pinot blanc. Low acidity and well handled phenolics make for impeccably fine texture, supporting a fragrant palate of nashi pear and almost ripe nectarine. $17 at No Frills, […]

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A core of pinot noir provides creamy softness, sangiovese and nebbiolo add grip and the influence of old barrels provide savoury complexity. The result is a pale and refreshing rosé of generous, fleshy mid-palate and taut, focused and finely textural finish, alive with flavours of pomegranate, watermelon and pink pepper. $17 at Wine List Australia, […]

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A brand new release from De Bortoli, a great value example of signature pinot blanc, capturing the nashi pear and citrus zest crunch, white nectarine fleshiness, spice and finely structured texture that characterise this variety. It’s been partly handled in old barrels like chardonnay and partly like riesling, building a palate shape of great versatility. […]

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2013 is a particularly approachable vintage for Geoff Weaver’s Sauvignon, an early harvest that has produced an open and accessible style of lovely precision and accurate definition. Cool, high altitude minerality and texture accent a taut palate of fragrant lemon blossom, pink lady apple and pink grapefruit notes. $20 at Jim Murphy’s.

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