10 BEST REDS

$25 or under

2020 OLIVER’S TARANGA ‘CHICA’ MENCIA ROSÉ $25 Winemaker Corrina Wright is convinced the Spanish variety menica is ideal for rosé made in McLaren Vale. Its savoury flavour profile is ideal for those wanting a dry style of rosé. This has fragrant, wild red berry aromatics and silky smooth texture, which gives it an alluring quality on the mid-palate before a lively finish that is long and dry.

2019 LA KOOKI ‘TEN FOOT’ TEMPRANILLO $25

This densely flavoured Geographe red begins with gentle aromas of blackcurrant and brambles. It is juicy and delightfully fleshy in the mid-palate with power and substance adding definition. Its long finish features well-integrated, balanced tannins. Statuesque and complete.

2018 HAY SHED HILL SHIRAZ TEMPRANILLO $22

Shiraz in Margaret River is often improved with small amounts of other varieties: tempranillo here offers some restraint without impacting on the vibrant, juicy mulberry and blackberry flavours of shiraz. There’s balance and a pleasing grip to finish.

2018 GLAETZER ‘WALLACE’ SHIRAZ GRENACHE $23 Barossa shiraz and grenache is pretty hard to resist. It’s full of rich, ripe concentrated flavours – think redcurrant, mulberry, blackberry – and so smooth it slips down far too easily. Ben Glaetzer and the team have consistently offered excellent value with this wine.

2018 BREMERTON ‘SELKIRK’ SHIRAZ $22

Rebecca Willson continues to impress with the delicacy and quality of her whites, but the best of Langhorne Creek’s reds take some beating in the value for money stakes. This gluggable red is supple, round and fleshy with ripe redcurrant and blackberry flavours that are rich, concentrated and pleasingly smooth. Memorable, too. 2018 OAKDENE SHIRAZ $24 This well-priced shiraz from the Bellarine Peninsula shows how far the area has come in the past 10 years. Steven Paul has crafted a restrained shiraz with ripe red berry flavours, silky smooth texture and a gentle finish that is long and satisfying. A winery and area to watch for – and, eventually, visit.

2018 JUNIPER CROSSING SHIRAZ $25

Juniper Estate’s Mark Messenger makes a substantial raft of wines, all of which represent value for money. Here’s a good example: bright blackberry and dark plum aromas, smooth fleshy texture with good depth, concentration and restrained power, finishing with the gentlest grip.

2019 RISKY BUSINESS MALBEC $25

Though difficult to grow, malbec has been a hero variety in Margaret River since the early days. This is well-priced though supply is limited. Youthful yet drinking well now, it has restrained, dark berry, black cherry aromas, is smooth, lively and full of flavour.

2018 BLEASDALE ‘MULBERRY TREE’ CABERNET SAUVIGNON $22

Bleasdale quality has been strong in recent years. This is excellent value: gentle blackcurrant aromatics, black plum and bramble flavours, power and structure in the mid-palate yet soft and smooth. Long and satisfying finish.

2018 ROSILY ‘THE CARTOGRAPHER’ $18

This is a rare Margaret River blend of all five Bordeaux red varieties: cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, malbec and petit verdot. It’s tighter and firmer than many reds from the region. There’s deep, dark berry fruit, power and dense blackcurrant, black cherry flavours. Just perfect with a hearty beef casserole.