10 BEST REDS $20 or under

2017 DE BORTOLI ‘BELLA RIVA’ SANGIOVESE ROSÉ $18 De Bortoli is serious about its rosés and favours the drier styles, which are admirably suited to the savoury profile of sangiovese. This King Valley rosé is pale pink with restrained aromas and strawberry and red cherry flavours that are crisp and clean, dry and satisfying.

2017 SILKWOOD ‘THE BOWERS’ PINOT NOIR $20 Cool Pemberton, in WA’s timber country, is best known for its whites, with pinot the standout red. Silkwood’s pinots have performed well in shows for several years. This is lightly framed yet has pleasing depth of delicate strawberry and mulberry flavours, silky texture and refreshing acidity on a crisp, lively finish.

2016 MR MICK TEMPRANILLO $17 ‘Mr Mick’ remains one of Australia’s best budget-priced ranges. The 2016 Tempranillo shows bright, brambly aromas and clear, elemental, mulberry pastille flavours that are ripe and juicy. It is soft and fleshy on the mid-palate, medium-bodied with a gently fresh finish.

2015 D’ARENBERG ‘THE CUSTODIAN’ GRENACHE $18 You don’t need to visit its famous Cube to enjoy one of the well-priced D’Arenberg wines. This has brooding blackberry aromas and blackberry and dark cherry flavours. While its soft, fleshy texture attracts, it is the underlying concentration of power that thrills on the mid-palate before the gentle grip to finish.

2016 MAXWELL ‘LITTLE DEMON’ SHIRAZ GRENACHE $20 This McLaren Vale’s winery reliably produces a consistent range at this price point. This vintage of ‘Little Demon’ is a ripper: gently brooding then plush and alluring with ripe dark plum and blackberry flavours, velvety texture and seamless tannins that add length to the finish. Ready to drink.

2016 MCPHERSON ‘LANEWAY’ SHIRAZ $19 McPherson shows what a gold medal-winning central Victorian shiraz can offer at a budget price. This is delightfully aromatic with ripe redcurrant and blackberry flavours, soft and silky yet with concentration, depth and power. Its supple tannins are food friendly.

2018 PARKER COONAWARRA ‘EARLY RELEASE’ SHIRAZ $19 WD Wines produces a tremendous range of quaffers. This innovative shiraz has an immediacy that shows an understanding of what consumers want. It’s bright, fresh and juicy, lightly framed with vibrant red cherry, redcurrant and strawberry flavours, finishing with lively summery acidity.

2017 ZILZIE SELECTION 23 SHIRAZ $18 The best producers in the Murray Darling, such as Zilzie, consistently produce good quality quaffing wines at affordable prices. This is easy drinking luxury: bright raspberry and red cherry with a hint of blackberry flavours, smooth and fleshy texture, gentle fine tannins.

2017 RED KNOT CABERNET SAUVIGNON $15 This wine, from McLaren Vale’s Shingleback, has ripe blackberry aromatics and dark cherry and blackcurrant flavours that are rich and concentrated. It has the structure of the variety yet is soft and fleshy on the mid-palate and has supple, fine tannins to finish.

2017 TAYLORS CABERNET SAUVIGNON $20 This red, from the Clare Valley, has long been available at fair prices. It is a serious cabernet that will benefit from ageing. It has deep blackcurrant and briary flavours and a powerful, tight structure that is balanced by fleshy texture. This gives a softness to the mid-palate and finish.