Rather than choosing a label that you know and love, why not show some adventure and try something from a lesser-known producer? Winewriter Winsor Dobbin has some ideas to accompany a summer feast.
Cohesive chardonnay
Kyneton Ridge 2024 Chardonnay
Some wines strike an immediate chord. This is one of those wines; a delightful new release chardonnay from Macedon Ranges-based Keyneton Ridge using fruit from nearby Bendigo. It is a lovely young wine; aromatic, refreshing, beautifully balanced and food friendly. Barrel fermentation has added palate interest, but this is all about the lively citrus and stone fruit flavours allied to hints of minerality with just a touch of oak poking through. There is lots of length here; plenty of affordable drinking pleasure. Excellent value for $35.
A taste of Italy
Pizzini 2021 Aquila Nebbiolo
The Pizzini family are pioneers in growing grapes and making wine from Italian varietals in Victoria’s King Valley, which was previously known for tobacco. This is a lovely take on the Piedmont grape nebbiolo, known for the great wines of Barolo and Barbaresco. You can enjoy it now, perhaps best paired with pasta and ragu, or happily cellar it for a decade or two. It is subtle now and will develop more savoury characters as it ages. A wine for sipping and savouring. $65.
Summer stunner
Hay Shed Hill 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
Picnics? Seafood platters? A day at the beach? All would be perfect opportunities to enjoy a chilled bottle of this classic Margaret River white blend. It is a wine full of the joys of spring with fresh zingy fruit leading the charge on a palate that is fruity but finishes dry. Made from grapes grown in a vineyard that dates back almost 50 years, this has tropical fruit flavours and bright, clean acidity on the finish. Spring in a bottle. $22.
Cheerful cheapie
Rewild 2022 Merlot
The Rewild wine range from the Murray-Darling has a focus on sustainability – and offers great value for around a tenner. This is perfect for a barbecue or a midweek supper. Available exclusively from Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores. Australian merlot can sometimes be dull and a little lifeless, but this is an exception with plenty of plummy and dark berry fruit, dark chocolate, and peppery hints. Clean, well-made, and very affordable. $9.99.
Tasmanian treat
Parish Vineyards 2024 Riesling
Tasmania is best known for sparkling wines, pinot noir and chardonnay, but it also a source of excellent cool-climate Rieslings that are floral and zesty. This is a new release from the team behind the Jansz sparkling labels, using fruit from small vineyards dotted around the Apple Isle. This comes from a vineyard at Sorrell – just east of Hobart, and from a vintage that produced low yields with fruit that was aromatic, steely and intense. Pair with Vietnamese spring rolls, or some fresh oysters. $35.
Gundog Estate 2023 Smoking Barrel Shiraz
This is a very quaffable blend of shiraz grapes grown in three different vineyard regions of NSW: the Hunter Valley, where Gundog winemaker Matt Burton is based, the Hilltops region outside of Young and around Canberra. I liked this for its immediate approachability and its affable, no-nonsense style. Wild berry notes and hints of pepper/spice are the headliners here in a medium-bodied red for immediate enjoyment. $36.
See more of Winsor’s wine reviews at www.gourmetontheroad.com.
