Leconfield Dune Leasingham Barristers Block Mazza Bird in Hand Dowie Doole Ca’ Botta Cantine Vitevis Best Wines Under $50

Both grown on the estate and sourced from quality growers, the grapes are crushed and destemmed straight into the press to retain delicacy and aromatics and minimise colour transfer from the skins. The wine’s salmon pink colour is matched by a delicate strawberry aroma along with citrus blossom. The palate offers cherry and strawberry flavours and a creamy texture. The refined structure of this wine is highlighted by its subtle acidity and the elegance of very fine beading. Learn More

Its bigger than Pinot, and of course has a different flavour profile, but in the UK plenty of punters who drink Pinot are equally enamoured of Bardolino. 'But it is made from the same grapes as Amarone', we hear you say. It is, and Bardolino is only half an hour from that region, but the wines are altogether brighter and far more delicate than you'll find there. This Bardolino sees about 6 months in oak, followed by some time in tank prior to bottling – red fruits and violet form the nose. It is red fruity, pulpy and fleshy and finishes tight and dry, with excellent length, minerality, plenty of acid and fine tannins. Drink it with rich meaty dishes or oily fish. Definitely a food wine and absolutely worth decanting. Learn More

Aromatic and laden with green apple and citrus, sherbet and fruit tingle, this is an excellent prosecco. The palate is textural and (within specs) has good mouthfeel. Consider pairing with a plate of something spicy! Learn More

A wonderful, textural, stonefruit driven and buttery, full bodied Chardonnay. Just the best fruit is taken from Dowies elevated, sandy soiled Blewitt Springs Vineyards. After a gentle press without the use of rollers, a mix of whole berries and juice is inoculated with yeast, and once that is rolling is transferred to older French oak. Ferment finishes and the lees stirring begins, building layers of texture and creaminess which is bolstered by malolactic fermentation. This is fully worked Chardonnay in all its glory. Learn More

Since 1996, Chris Thomas has maintained a shiraz solera which form part of this lip smacking sparkling. The solera contains some of the best shiraz Chris has made over the last 20+ years and is used sparingly and exclusively to add the finishing touches to his sparkling shiraz each year and adds depth of flavour and complexity. This is sparkling shiraz as we love it- opulent, slightly sweet, with richness, complexity, oak and plenty of fine tannins. That structure combined with flavours of blackberry, cherry. dark chocolate and spice making this a perfect accompaniment to protein, like roast chook, bacon and eggs, etc. It's bloody good. Learn More

A brilliantly complex yet powerful Shiraz. The Blewitt Springs plantings provide fragrance and delicious blue fruits, the California Road plantings bring blackstrap, black and blue fruits, power and chewy tannins. Wonderful already and should comfortably improve for more than a decade. Learn More

Leasingham wines have been around since the 1890s and have been steered by a series of legendary winemakers over the years. It wasn’t until the early 70s that the Bin series kicked off, with a Bin 61 Shiraz and a Bin 56 Cab Malbec. These were both highly prized for their exceptional quality and regular ability to out-perform wines selling at 2-3 times their asking price. A few of us from WD were lucky enough to attend a vertical tasting with Tim Knappstein (one of the aforementioned and legendary Leasingham alumni) a decade or so ago and came away incredibly impressed with the quality and consistency of the wines. We looked at over 20 vintages, and everything we tasted was still showing fruit, the best of them were exceptional. So it’s a little sad that the '21 may be the last vintage of the Bin 61 Shiraz. Lots of good stuff here, black tea, chocolate, coffee grounds, mint, plum, charcuterie, and blackberries. The overall impression is of mid-weight fruit, an even balance between softness, fine tannin and good length. Cracking value for money. Drink now through 2030. Learn More

An exceptional, fragrant and concentrated Leconfield Cabernet Sauvignon which was aged in 50% new French oak for 18 months prior to bottling. Cassis and cinnamon on the nose leading to a palate rich with blackberries, plums, and violets. Finishes with super silky tannins. Lovely already and may live forever. Learn More

A beautifully buttery and oaky Leconfield Chardonnay Chardy. Ripe tropical fruits, matchstick, stonefruits, creaminess and grilled nuts. Looking for a buttery Chard with a good hit of French oak, look no further! Learn More

The Leconfield Coonawarra Merlot is widely considered to be among the top handful produced in Australia. The 2020 vintage has an exceptional framework of acidity and fine tannin within which it is currently hoarding plenty of ripe plums, violet and tomato leaf. Allow the wine to breathe and they will be shared with you in abundance. Learn More

Another textural Rose from Leconfield with red fruits, florals, and melon. Winemaker Paul Gordon works 2 very different ferments here... one aromatic ferment... where juice was cold settled, racked with low solids and cold fermented using an aromatic yeast. The other portion was fermented with whole solids and natural yeast at a warmer temperature, then allowed to undergo malo-lactic fermentation to promote mouthfeel and length. The end result is stunning and complex. Learn More