With winter fast approaching, wine writer Winsor Dobbin selects six red wines to delight over the colder months of the year – at a range of different price points.
Bargain buy
Quartier 2022 Pinot Noir
Pinot noir can be a particularly difficult wine style to produce in Australia; it is pernickety in the vineyard and needs a deft hand in the winery. Prices have risen fast over the past couple of years for Burgundy as well wines from the cooler regions at home. This entry level pinot from the team at Port Phillip Estate on the Mornington Peninsula ticks a lot of boxes. Made from fruit sourced from several local vineyards, it is red fruit-driven, bright, and fresh with lovely varietal character. It is a seriously good buy for $32.
Splurge Time
Henschke 2018 The Wheelwright
Looking for a special gift for a wine lover? The Wheelwright is a relatively new label from the Henschke family, who have six generations of winemaking experience and whose range includes the benchmark Hill of Grace, which nowadays costs you just a tad under a grand a bottle. This is far more affordable, but still a wine worthy of a special occasion. It is grown and made organically and biodynamically from a team known for its attention to detail. There is lots of length and elegance in this spicy and food-friendly shiraz, made from fruit grown on old vines in the cooler Eden Valley region of South Australia. Exceptional. $150.
Capital cracker
Ravensworth 2021 Estate Shiraz Viognier
From a tiny estate in Murrumbateman, outside Canberra, former Clonakilla team member Bryan Martin crafts some intriguing and beguiling wines under the Ravensworth label. This is a tribute to the classic red wines of Rhone Valley, where a small amount of white wine grapes is sometimes added to a red wine to make it fresher and more approachable. Matured in large French oak foudre for texture and complexity, this is a very classy red with spice and savoury notes to the fore, thanks to a cooler year. Perfect for pairing with red meat dishes. $52.
Modern style
Orlando 2020 Cellar 13 Barossa Valley Grenache
This new release ticks a whole lot of price/quality boxes with grenache offering some of the best red wine buying in Australia right now. And you certainly will not miss the eye-catch teal label on your local bottle shop shelves. Bright red fruit flavours are in abundance here, with fine tannins adding to the persistent grip on the palate. I think this is a wine best enjoyed over the next couple of years, preferably with a barbecue, some spicy slices of pizza, or perhaps some gourmet hamburgers. $32.
Regional champion
Hesketh 2021 Penola Cabernet Sauvignon
There are some gems among the Hesketh family’s recent releases. The entry level Rules of Engagement pinot grigio is a cracker, as is this very impressive cabernet sauvignon from Coonawarra, one of the regions where the grape variety shines brightest in Australia. family’s Abbey vineyard, located on the southern end of the Terra Rossa strip, just north of the township of Penola, this a classic cooler climate cabernet with dark fruit notes, leafy hints, and immediate drinkability. Pair this one with another classic: a traditionally roast lamb with all the trimmings. $34.
Cheap and Cheerful
Charles Renoir 2021 Beaujolais
This is one of the many bargains to be found in the imports section of Aldi supermarkets. Made from the gamay grape – which produces lighter-style red wines – this is designed for enjoying in its fresh and vibrant youth given its tangy minerality. It is a perfect midweek wine choice and can even be enjoyed slightly chilled before the temperatures begin to plummet. Think raspberry and cherry flavours and match with simple dishes like sausages or a quiche. The price is certainly right at $12.
See more of Winsor’s wine reviews at www.gourmetontheroad.com
