Winsor's Choice

Terre a Terre 2022 Crayeres Vineyard Reserve

2026-06-06T17:20:00.000-07:00

Terre a Terre has built a formidable reputation for higher echelon South Australian reds with just a touch of French swagger added by winemaker Xavier Bizot. From the first sniff and sip this identified itself as something special; a wine of style and substance to grace any dinner table. Think length, power and balance with dark fruits to the fore. This is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (66%,) shiraz (17%) and dollop of cabernet franc - a classic Claret style made entirely from estate fruit grown at Wrattonbully on the Limestone Coast. I liked this a lot and gave it 97 points. Pair with Moroccan roast lamb. $90. https://terreaterre.com.au/

Curly Flat 2025 White Pinot

2026-05-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

Here is something a little bit different from outstanding Macedon Ranges producer Curly Flat - a rosé style that is effectively a white wine made from a red wine grape. Using only free-run juice, it is fermented with wild yeasts and aged in old oak puncheons. Lightly salmon coloured, it is a pale, composed and very dry wine with bright acid on a brisk, refreshing finish. Pair with a chicken pie, or a vegetable quiche, or share with friends and challenge them to identify the grape. An unusual marriage that delivers lovely drinking. Best enjoyed lightly chilled. $34. https://curlyflat.com/

Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard 2024 Shiraz

2026-05-23T17:15:00.000-07:00

Some wines sing. This is a Pavarotti extravaganza. The new vintage of the Hunter Valley's standout red will be released in June - and it is a star turn - a wine of concentration, structure and distinction. The Pokolbin vineyard grapes, from vines that are 56 years old, are aided and abetted by 100% French oak (15% new), which is soaked up by the quality fruit. Very composed, impeccably balanced. Dark with layers of flavours; and sensual, savoury notes. This is elegant but rounded; precise and very sexy. An icon from winemaker Stuart Hordern and his team that gets 98 points from me. Wish I could afford a bottle or two to put away as this is a brilliant cellaring prospect for the next three decades. $500. www.brokenwood.com.au

Pewsey Vale 2025 Riesling

2026-05-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

Walk into any wine shop and you are likely to be confronted by a bewildering array of choices. Some days you might feel like experimenting; others you might want to be assured you are getting a familiar favourite that always delivers. The Hill-Smith family has been producing the dry Pewsey Vale riesling since 1847 - using fruit from a lovely vineyard in the hills of the Eden Valley in the Barossa. Year in, year out this single site wine delivers excellent drinking for under $30 - think intense aromas with a melange of citrus, leading to bright acid and stunning length on the palate. After a few months in bottle this is sitting in a very comfortable space and would pair with anything from fresh Tassie oysters to salt and pepper squid. $28.

Shaw + Smith 2023 Shiraz

2026-05-09T17:15:00.000-07:00

Love red wines with flavour and personality but a little over, big, clumsy, over-oaked shirazes? This excellent wine from the Adelaide Hills exemplifies modern, cooler-climate shiraz. It's stylish with a bit of swagger and very food friendly. Shaw + Smith is now in its fifth decade and delivers top-notch wines across the board. This one has bright berry/dark cherry energy, deftly judged oak in the background, and impressive medium-bodied balance with subtle savoury and spice notes. I'd pair this with lamb chops and roasted Mediterranean vegetables. $59. www.shawandsmith.com.

Port Phillip Estate 2025 Pinot Nouveau

2026-05-02T17:10:00.000-07:00

Port Phillip Estate makes a whole swag of Mornington Peninsula wines more serious than this one; wines crafted for sipping and savouring, and in many cases for cellaring. This is none of those things. Tim Perrin and his winemaking team have created a fresh, youthful style of pinot noir made to be enjoyed in the style of Beaujolais - perhaps slightly chilled. This is a wine for immediate enjoyment; one to be slurped, perhaps with a barbecue, or perhaps just on an autumn day. Because. Red fruits, juiciness and lots of fun. Pair with a gourmet sausage roll, or a slice of vegetable quiche. $32. https://www.portphillipestate.com.au/

Marnong Estate 2025 Single Vineyard Montepulciano

2026-04-25T17:08:00.000-07:00

Montepulciano is one of the most popular red grapes in Italy, second only to sangiovese, and it is widely grown across the centre and south of the country. Here, Marnong Estate winemaker Alex Beckett has produced an impressive version from the Sunbury region of Victoria, one of a band of new releases for winter. It is, typically for the variety, dark coloured and deeply flavoured with blackcurrant and herb notes ahead of blackberry intensity and savoury/deli notes. Perfect for pairing with a winter casserole, perhaps starring rabbit or mushroom. $37. marnongestate.com.au

Oakridge 2025 Meunier

2026-04-18T19:29:00.000-07:00

This is a fun, affordable, dangerously drinkable light red with a serious point of difference. It is made from 100% Yarra Valley pinot meunier, a grape that is a mutant of its cousin pinot noir and is often used as a minimal component of sparkling wines. Three weeks on skins and time in French oak add substance to what is a very food-friendly style. We paired ours with Middle Eastern pita pockets (one lamb, one falafel) and they matched a treat. Aromatic with bright fruit here, along with hints of spice and instant palate appeal. Lovely stuff. $35. https://oakridgewines.com.au/

Clonakilla 2024 Shiraz Viognier

2026-04-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

You'll need to get a wriggle on if you want to secure some bottles of the new release of this cult favourite - available from Thursday. A wine of impressive energy and flow, it is high on quality with deep, dark spice notes to the fore, but volumes are low after a difficult year marked by severe frosts. From Murrumbateman, outside Canberra, this cool-climate classic offers harmonious fruit/spice notes and fabulous length. "It is undoubtedly one of the great SV vintages for us, but one made in more limited quantities than usual," the Kirk family, which has been pioneering winemaking in the region since 1971, says. This is certainly worth a splurge - and a spell in the cellar for those who are so inclined. $130. https://clonakilla.com.au/

Kooyong 2025 Clonale Chardonnay

2026-04-04T17:13:00.000-07:00

If you like your chardonnays big, oaky, aged, leesy and yeasty then please look elsewhere. If, however, your preference is for vibrant, fresh, pure young chardonnays in the Chablis mould then this will be right up your alley. Full of carefree exuberance, there is subtle, mainly older French oak laying down the background vibe, but this is all about a zingy citrus tang, hints of rockmelon and plenty of acidity and length. is a blend of Chardonnay from Tuerong and Balnarring vineyards on the Mornington Peninsula that would pair well with anything from a pork chop to a bowl of paella. A very good wine for $38. https://www.portphillipestate.com.au/

Mr Riggs 2021 The Chap

2026-03-28T16:17:00.000-07:00

Everything about this wine says "premium" or "special occasion". Heavy bottle, classy packaging, special box. Ben Riggs describes his flagship red wine as the "creme de la creme" of his output, and it is easy to see why he is proud. This is blend of 55% shiraz from Riggs' own McLaren Vale vineyard and 45% cabernet sauvignon from a well-regarded vineyard in Coonawarra. The Chap is a serious fellow. Bold and and assertive but still blessed with impressive balance. Lashings of new oak on an opulent palate. Released at five years of age, it is dark and profound with the polished shiraz fruit an impressive foil for the structure of the cabernet. I paired this classic "claret" with a burger and Mediterranean vegetables, but it merits finer fare. $120. https://mrriggs.com.au/

Angullong 2023 Fossil Hill Montepulciano

2026-03-21T16:18:00.000-07:00

Montepulciano is an indigenous Italian red grape planted throughout central and southern Italy. This well-priced new release is one of a trio of Italian varietals made by Jeff Byrne for Orange-based Angullong. The others are an equally impressive barbera, and a sangiovese. Montepulciano produces fruity, immediately enjoyable reds that are food friendly - and this one certainly ticks that box. It would pair well with anything from simples pizzas to pastas with a rich ragu. Think generous cherry/plum flavours and just a hint of mixed dried herbs adding a savoury note. Nice balance; soft tannins. Ready to enjoy right now. $30. https://www.angullong.com.au/

Vasse Felix 2024 Chardonnay

2026-03-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

World-class chardonnay from one of the premier producers in Margaret River for under $50? That's a huge win. There is plenty of palate complexity here; but also immediate accessibility - not an easy trick to pull off. This is a thoroughly modern chardonnay veers more to elegance than power but still has enough weight to satisfy with food. The palate offers a concerto of melon, stone fruit and spice, savoury/nutty elements and some zingy fresh minerality. Palate interest has been added by wild ferment and maturation in French oak barriques (30% new). This would be a great match for pork belly dishes, or a Portuguese roast chicken. Top notch. $46. https://www.vassefelix.com.au/

Ekin 2024 Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir

2026-03-07T15:10:00.000-08:00

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find quality pinot noir for which you don't need to take out a mortgage. Make a note of this one: juicy, fresh and loveable pinot from the Adelaide Hills that won't cost an arm and a leg. It is floral and red fruited with some deli hints on the impressively complex palate. Ekin Wine Co, was only founded five years ago, but the fruit used here comes from 25-year-old vines. Ten months in mature oak barrels has added complexity without intruding on the vibrant joie de vivre in the fruit. Pair with Chinese roast duck or some pork belly. This is a serious bargain. $25. https://ekinwineco.com.au/

Grosset 2025 Piccadilly Chardonnay

2026-02-28T15:15:00.000-08:00

Jeff Grosset may be best known for his superb Clare Valley rieslings, but he is also very much at the top of his game with a brace of chardonnays from the Adelaide Hills: the Piccadilly and the new-release Lenswood. In the 2025 vintage the Piccadilly was my pick; impressively Burgundian with compelling youthful vivacity. A floral nose leads on to a classic cool-climate palate where citrus and stone fruit have combined harmoniously. There is length here, and a nifty combo of structure and immediate drinkability. Partial malo and quality French oak maturation for 10 months have added to the palate appeal. I'd pair this with roast pork and lashings of crackling. Only 500 cases were made so moving quickly may be advantageous. 96 points from me. $90. www.grosset.com.au.

Mumm Marlborough NV Brut Rosé

2026-02-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

Champagne House GH Mumm - which dates back to 1827 - made a good choice when it selected talented and much-travelled Trina Smith to make its Terroirs sparkling wines across Australia and New Zealand. This pretty pink sparkler certainly impressed my tasting group this week with its vivaciousness; an ideal choice as an aperitif, or with finger food. Made from 100% pinot noir grapes from Marlborough, this is both floral and fruity, but finishes dry with intense, tight red berry/currant flavours to the fore, along with just a hint of shortbread biscuit. Plenty of length here, and plenty of fun. $45.

First Ridge 2025 Uova Bella Fiano Vermentino

2026-02-14T15:15:00.000-08:00

Having tried impressive First Ridge 2025 fiano and vermentino releases just a few weeks ago, I was surprised to see this blend of the two varieties arrive from the same Mudgee winery. Having now tasted the blend I understand the reasoning. While the two single variety wines were fresh and crisp - fun wines for summer - this marriage of Sicilian and Sardinian flavours was fermented in an imported terracotta egg - a modern take on ancient amphorae. That has resulted in a blend that is more than the sum of its two parts; altogether more structural and potentially longer lived. The lees contact adds complexity without any oak involvement. The blend is 60% fiano and 40% vermentino. Impressively different. $45. www.firstridge.com.au.

Curly Flat 2024 Pinot Noir

2026-02-07T15:15:00.000-08:00

Curly Flat is a Macedon Ranges producer of stellar pinot noirs and chardonnays. The new release of their estate pinot noir lives up to expectations with a wine of power and balance that is grown, vinified and bottle on site outside the hamlet of Lancefield. So a family-owned producer with total control. While this producer's Williams Crossing 2024 is designed for casual sipping, this one is stylish and dinner party worthy; perhaps matched with roasted quail or Peking duck. A tip. Let this one breathe for a few minutes after opening to enjoy it at its best. $72. https://curlyflat.com/

Henschke 2025 Julius Riesling

2026-01-31T15:10:00.000-08:00

Six generations of the Henschke family have been making wines in South Australia for over 150 years - and their immense range really does offer something for everyone. All their wines come with class and style and I was particularly impressed by this benchmark Eden Valley riesling - an exemplar of the family expertise with the grape variety. Named in honour of a family ancestor, this is a pale, aromatic example with citrus and floral on the nose with lime/grapefruit flavours to the fore on a zesty palate with impressive flinty minerality and lively acid. A perfect after-work libation, or ideal for pairing with seafood or lightly spiced Asian dishes. Fine and focussed. $56. https://www.henschke.com.au/

Wirra Wirra 2022 The Angelus Cabernet Sauvignon

2026-01-24T15:10:00.000-08:00

Serious and stylish, the is exactly the sort of the red wine you want to serve when seeking to impress. There is complexity and intensity here, as you'd expect from this standout McLaren Vale producer, but there is also impressive flavour balance. The fruit comes from two differerent vineyards and has been open fermented and spent time on skins before being basket pressed and then matured for 18 months in quality French oak. Match this with a fillet steak and mushrooms, or maybe a goulash casserole. Very classy $80. www.wirrawirra.com.au

Hoddles Creek 2025 Pinot Gris

2026-01-17T15:10:00.000-08:00

A surprise package from the d'Anna family, who produce outstanding wines in the Yarra Valley. It is not a wine for everyone but will certainly be a hit with lovers of skin-contact wines. It is salmon coloured, but not to be mistaken for a rosé. It is a blend of fruit from two blocks, one picked early for freshness, the other picked later for tannin ripeness from the skin contact. It is a wine of impressive vibrancy, with a savoury, dry finish. It is treated like a red wine in the winery and that gives it added tannin structure. Versatile, too. Pair with anything from a mushroom quiche to a tapas plate. $26. www.hoddlescreekestate.com.au

Moss Wood 2024 Amy's

2026-01-10T15:15:00.000-08:00

Calling all lovers of Bordeaux-style red blends. This is cabernet-driven wine from one of Margaret River's best producers that offers an excellent each way bet: drink now or cellar for a decade or more. It is a blend of 72% cabernet with the remainder of the blend made up of merlot, malbec and petit verdot. A wine of impeccable balance with classic currant/berry/plum notes allied to violet, dark chocolate and cedary oak characters. There is impressive structure here, but also bright acid that aid immediate accessibility. Concentrated but beguiling. $40. www.mosswood.com.au

Pizzini 2024 Verduzzo

2026-01-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

Verduzzo eh? I can honestly say that I haven't drunk a lot of wine made from this white grape variety. This one comes from the Pizzini family in the King Valley, masters of many Italian varieties, and it turns out it is a very sharp wine - texturally interesting and very food friendly. Verduzzo can be traced back to the 1400s in north-east Italy, but is has always been a fringe grape despite its appealing chalkiness. With 50% fermented in stainless steel and 50% in oak, this has an impressive minerality/acidity balance and is drinking well at one year of age. The bad news: I got to this one late. THis vntage is sold out at the Pizzini cellars, but you might get lucky and find some in retail land. Pair with food as as you would a Chablis. $35. https://www.pizzini.com.au/

Terre a Terre 2023 Crayeres Vineyard Cabernet Franc

2025-12-26T15:20:00.000-08:00

It is a mystery why cabernet franc is not more popular in Australia given the grape variety is a perfect fit for our climate, lifestyle and food choices. The Crayères Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2023 is the ninth vintage of a cabernet franc-based release from Xiavier Bizot and Lucy Croser's Wrattonbully (Limestone Coast) vineyard. From a cool and wet vintage, this a very chic, food-friendly release that has seen 8% shiraz added to the final blend to lift the middle palate. A Bordeaux/Rhone marriage of convenience. The end result is bright, medium bodied and enticingly gluggable. Pair with old school roast chicken, or other poultry dishes. $35. https://terreaterre.com.au/

Vasse Felix 2025 Classic Dry White

2025-12-19T15:13:00.000-08:00

Vasse Felix is a pioneering winery in Margaret River that produces some of our finest wines - but it also makes this budget "Classic" range that offers excellent value for summer quaffing. This is a classic regional blend of semillon and sauvignon blanc. It's dry, fruit-driven and very crisp - perfect for enjoying with a seafood platter or fish and chips. Vasse Felix has been making this blend for close to 30 years and this vintage is 2/3rds semillon and 1/3rd savvy, made from sustainably grown fruit. Think pithy lemon and Asian spice notes leading on to a palate that is crunchy, lively, super-refreshing and dangerously moreish. $20. https://www.vassefelix.com.au/