If you were given 30 bucks to buy a bottle of wine, what would you choose?
For Shanteh Wale, the 2023 Farmer’s Leap Shiraz (released later this year) is hard to go past. “Made entirely from estate-grown grapes, it showcases lively, vibrant fruit with deep layers of spice, restrained oak, and an abundance of flavour. This wine captures the ideal climate conditions of the region and of Padthaway's radiant future,” she says.
Jane Faulkner suggests three wines from Langhorne Creek winery Bleasdale: the 2023 Bremerview Shiraz, the 2023 Second Innings Malbec (released later this year), and the 2023 The Wild Fig SGM. It’s the Wild Fig that’s her pick of the bunch, though.
“Three varieties that go together so well, especially if the result is this juicy and appealing drink. Lots of enticing aromatics from musk, sarsaparilla and red berries, the mid-weighted palate follows suit with more woodsy spices, licorice and a flood of sweet fruit. Very satisfying and a brilliant price, too.”
Katrina Butler looks to the Riverland to provide “interesting drinking at a great price point,” particularly the wines of Ricca Terra. “This year saw the inaugural release of their High Noon Skin Contact White Blend,” she says. “A delicious and exuberant skin-contact white, primed for the mid-afternoon gathering, salty snacks in attendance.”
Toni Paterson MW nominates the 2024 Brokenwood Semillon, adoring “its purity, freshness and lemony vibe. It is ultimately refreshing with its crystal-like clarity. It is simply impossible not to love.”
Jeni Port has a lot of favourites for less than $30; under duress, she whittled her original list of 14 down to four, from four categories. Her go-to sparkling is the “clean, brisk and summery” Risky Business NV Prosecco. “Plenty of sparkly oomph and bubbly action here,” she says.
Her pick of the whites is the 2022 Warner Vineyard Roussanne, a wine which she says perfectly illustrates why there’s a growing buzz about the variety among Beechworth winemakers. And for reds, she suggests the classy 2023 Sanguine Estate Progeny Shiraz. “A sub-$30 Heathcote shiraz to delight the tastebuds as well as the hip pocket. Combines power and finesse, and as usual, it is defined by aromatics.”
For good measure, Jeni also includes the “staggeringly good value” Morris Classic Muscat NV. “Consider the deep amber hues, the impressive, complex aromas in rancio grilled nuts, dried figs, honey-drenched pan forte, some Turkish delight notes, and warm spices. Superb.”
Mike Bennie, Dave Brookes and Marcus Ellis each throw an international wine into the mix. For Mike, the 2022 Decibel Wines Giunta Malbec Nouveau “sits outside a lot of paradigms for Hawke’s Bay wineries, let alone New Zealand, leaning into lighter, fresher styles, with an eye on being chilled and drunk with gusto. Malbec through the lens of this vitality and brightness is full of charm.”
Dave’s go-to is the 2022 Cooperativa de Casado 'Laderas del Tiétar' Garnacha, which comes from Sierra de Gredos to the west of Madrid in Spain. “A pretty little thing,” he says, “all flighty red cherry, raspberry and tiny red berry fruits, gentle spice, meadow herbs and wildflowers with a detail, space and composure borne of its gestation in concrete tanks. Chalky and wonderfully sapid drinking.”
And Marcus loves the entry-level tempranillo from Artuke, a small winery in Baños de Ebro in Spain’s Rioja region. “Forget dusty, oaky Rioja,” he says, “this uber-bright yet terroir-focused wine is a marvel.”
Closer to home, Marcus adds, “every wine from [McLaren Vale winery] Dune is a head-scratching value for the quality, but the Empty Quarter GSM is consistently brilliant: midweight, detailed, site-reflective and versatile at table.”
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