Summer Value
Tony Cox discovers wines that are good on the palate – and the wallet!
With the much-publicised cost of living skyrocketing, what better time to look at great value, affordable wines than right now!
I went foraging through a local bottleshop recently and set a limit of $15 for a few bottles of wine that are readily available and came up with three that represent good drinking. The other criteria was they had to be Australian wines. Given we hear the constant references to our tightening economy why not pitch in early and give a bit of support to our guys.
NV Yarra Burn Cuvee Brut is a blend of cool climate fruit sourced from various regions within Victoria. Originally sourced from an Upper Yarra Valley vineyard, changes of ownership have seen it morph into a blend of Victorian regions. The time spent in the stable of Accolade Wines and the influence of sparkling guru, Ed Carr, is obvious and to deliver this level of freshness and yeasty complexity under $15 is brilliant.
Next cab off the rank was the 2021 d’Arenberg Olive Grove Chardonnay, a blend of McLarenvale and Adelaide Hills fruit. Being warmer climate the McLarenvale component delivers fruit weight, roundness and richness of flavour but on its own is missing a little at the back palate. This is where the Adelaide Hills component enhances the blend by bringing acidity to the wine and freshening the back palate, making it complete.
The third wine was the Mr Mick Rosé from Clare Valley in South Australia, a blend of Sangiovese, Shiraz, Grenache and Merlot. The initial flavour drive had quite sweet fruit with hints of lychee, red fruits and stone fruits before cleansing acidity began to come to the fore mid-palate to carry through to the back of the mouth.
Overall, a few suggestions to aid the family budget without having to give up on quality and, let’s be honest, I’ll take any tips that stretch those hard earned dollars a little further.
Best to all of our readers, advertisers and contributors this Festive Season.
Cheers & Good Drinking.
