10 BEST REDS $25 or under

2021 HAY SHED HILL PINOT NOIR ROSE $22

From the heart of Margaret River’s Wilyabrup Valley comes this proof that pinot noir has a place in the region. Fresh, vibrant and gently fragrant with redcurrant and red cherry perfumes, it is surprisingly intense yet light and bright, mouth-watering, crisp and lingering on the finish.

2021 YALUMBA ‘Y SERIES’ PINOT NOIR $15

There are so few good pinots at this price that when they find another, wine writers celebrate like a Melbourne fan after 57 years. The first vintage of this wine is sourced from two vineyards in the Riverland. It is soft, silky and smooth, with fresh, bright, redcurrant and red cherry flavours given some additional depth by a hint of briar.

2020 LONGVIEW ‘VISTA’ SHIRAZ BARBERA $23

There are several Italian varietals from Longview, This terrific shiraz barbera has brooding, briary aromatics, potent blackberry flavours and a pleasing gripping finish all demand a robust ragu bolognese.

D’ARENBERG ‘THE INNOCENT WEED’ GRENACHE MOURVEDRE SHIRAZ $25

There are so many excellent value wines in the D’Arenberg collection that the choice is often overwhelming. Thank goodness. This is a classic warm-climate red blend that makes for smooth, easy drinking. It has bright red cherry, redcurrant aromatics, deep and satisfying blackberry, red plum flavours and gentle tannins. Drink now.

2019 GLAETZER ‘WALLACE’ SHIRAZ GRENACHE $22.95

This is a shiraz-dominant blend from an excellent Barossa producer. It has briary, blackberry aromatics, is smooth and fleshy on the palate with underlying power and ripe redcurrant and blackberry flavours. Attractive fine-grain tannins add substance to the finish.

2020 PIG IN THE HOUSE SHIRAZ $25

Here is an organic and biodynamic shiraz from Jason and Rebecca O’Dea in the NSW Central Ranges. It has ripe, plummy aromatics, is fresh, lively and juicy in the mid-palate, with pleasing fleshy texture and vibrant dark plum and red cherry flavours.

2018 MADFISH CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT $18

Another delicious, everyday drinking red from Western Australia. The Burch family blends fruit from Margaret River and the Great South to produce a wine that is clean, fresh and lively with redcurrant and red cherry flavours, a satisfying concentration in the mid-palate and a pleasing grip to finish.

2019 CALABRIA FAMILY ‘THREE BRIDGES’ CABERNET SAUVIGNON $25

This impressive cabernet is silky smooth, seamless and stylish. There’s attractive blackcurrant and bramble aromatics, silky smooth texture featuring deep black-skin flavours – dark plums and black cherries. The gentlest tannins offer a touch of grunt to this attractive, drink-now style.

2019 MILES FROM NOWHERE ‘BEST BLOCKS’ CABERNET SAUVIGNON $25

This is the Tate family’s latest venture into winemaking in Margaret River. ‘Best Blocks’ is their reserve range. This has bright, redcurrant and black berry aromatics, is soft, full and round while showing the structure of cabernets from the region. Drinking well now.

2019 XANADU ‘CIRCA 77’ CABERNET SAUVINGON $22

The aromatics here are complex: brambles and black olives add a dimension to juicy blackcurrants. Powerful and tight with a pleasing grip to finish. At present, needs a sirloin steak to be at its best.